Formula 1: Aston Martin’s 2021 Sebastian Vettel decision is inevitable

It would be an absolute shocker if Sebastian Vettel is not an Aston Martin driver in the 2021 Formula 1 season, as the decision is now seemingly inevitable.

On paper, Aston Martin’s 2021 Formula 1 driver lineup is “set”. Sergio Perez signed a three-year contract extension with the team, currently known as Racing Point but set to be rebranded following the 2020 season, last August. He is under contract through 2022.

The other half of the lineup is Lance Stroll, who happens to be the son of team owner Lawrence Stroll. While he does not technically have a contract for 2021 at this point, that appears to be only a minor detail.

Indeed, their decision regarding their 2021 driver lineup seems inevitable. But it’s actually a far cry from a third year of a Perez-Stroll pairing.

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Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel is set to depart from Ferrari following the 2020 season, and he has been heavily linked to Aston Martin for next year.

These rumors have heated up drastically over the last several weeks, and Germany’s Bild newspaper has reported that Vettel is “about to sign” with the team. At this point, it would be shocking to see Vettel not end up with Aston Martin, and as the replacement for Perez, whose contract reportedly contains an out clause that Lawrence Stroll could trigger to make room for the 33-year-old German.

Yes, Racing Point have indicated that they don’t want to change up their driver lineup for next year. However, team principal Otmar Szafnauer has been very careful about his choice of words when discussing the matter, so as not to say something that is completely untrue.

Here is what he had to say about the matter last month, according to Radio Canada Sports.

"“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.”"

It all sounds good. But here’s the thing; they “prefer” to work with the current drivers. No kidding; it’s 2020, not 2021. Why would you want to work with Vettel right now?

This sounds like Renault managing director saying that he prefers to work with “tomorrow’s” drivers and not “yesterday’s” drivers, and then going ahead and signing the 38-year-old retired Fernando Alonso over the 21-year-old Guanyu Zhou or the 18-year-old Christian Lundgaard.

More recently, Szafnauer made another interesting claim. Here is what he had to say, according to RaceFans.

"“It’s tough to predict the future. What they need to do is do the best they can. They’re contracted and, watch this space, we’ll see where we go. But our intention is never to not honor our contracts.”"

Again, it all sounds good. But their “intention” is never to not honor their contracts — yes, “intention”.

Asked specifically about Perez, he also did not give a clear answer.

"“Like I said, he’s contracted.”"

Everybody knows that. Everybody has known that since last August, in fact. But everybody also knows that “contracted” doesn’t necessarily mean a whole lot under certain circumstances, like the ones with which the team are currently dealing, and that contracts can contain out clauses, which Perez’s reportedly does.

The writing is on the wall.

Vettel is set to sign with Aston Martin for the 2021 season as the replacement for Perez alongside Stroll, and it is set to happen in the very near future, given the fact that the out clause in Perez’s deal reportedly expires at the end of July.

Perez, who has confirmed that he has already been contacted by a rival team, will likely end up at Haas, which have indicated that they may look to hire a pay driver for next year. The millions of dollars worth of sponsorship from Perez’s Mexican backers seem pretty attractive for the sport’s lone American outfit. If not Haas, don’t be surprised to see him end up at Alfa Romeo Racing.