Formula 1: Sebastian Vettel back in play at Aston Martin for 2021?

Sebastian Vettel is suddenly back in play for a seat at Aston Martin for the 2021 Formula 1 season even after the team all but ruled out signing him.

Racing Point, which are set to be rebranded as Aston Martin beginning in the 2021 Formula 1 season, seemed to indicate that their driver lineup was set for next year when discussing the possibility of signing four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Vettel is set to be replaced by McLaren’s Carlos Sainz Jr. at Ferrari next season, and he has not yet found another ride.

Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo is set to replace Sainz, and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso is set to come out of retirement and replace Ricciardo.

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As a result, Vettel is the only one of the 20 drivers competing in Formula 1 right now who has lost his ride for next season and not found another.

It looked as though Aston Martin, which had been rumored as an option along with Mercedes and Red Bull, was off the table for the 33-year-old German, as team principal Otmar Szafnauer stated that the team would be moving forward with the two drivers they have now, Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll.

Here is what he had to say about the matter to Radio Canada.

"“It’s a crazy transfer season for 2021, while there isn’t even racing in 2020 yet. It is of course true that there are Grand Prix winners on the market for 2021 and now even champions with Sebastian Vettel, but we prefer to work with the current drivers. If we get a good car we can also win races and possibly become champion.”"

But now this is far less of a certainty, and with Vettel still a pending free agent now that the dust has completely settled at Ferrari, McLaren and Renault for 2021, Szafnauer has walked back his previous comments.

Here is what he had to say about the matter more recently to Sky Germany.

"“It’s flattering to have people make those kind of rumours around a four-time world champion and I think it was rumoured that Alonso was also interested as well. It is flattering but right now what we’re focused on is racing well, having a good season and what we do next year there’s still time to decide. I’ve been friends with Sebastian since he was young so I’m always talking to him. We still have time to decide.”"

Where things get interesting is the fact that Perez signed a three-year contract extension that runs through the 2022 season last August, and Stroll is the son of team owner and billionaire Canadian investor Lawrence Stroll.

So who would the 53-time Grand Prix winner replace?

Perez has proven to be a far more reliable option than Stroll, and he has also won his respective teammate battle for five consecutive seasons. No other driver is on a streak of more than three years.

But with the 30-year-old Mexican already under contract through 2022, would Lawrence Stroll allow his son to lose his seat with his own team? Of course, he could still potentially fund Lance’s ride with another team as well, given how many seats on the grid are still set to open up after this season.

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If Vettel doesn’t end up at Aston Martin next year, where else might he land? Will the 2020 season end up being his final season in Formula 1?

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