Formula 1: The inevitable appears to be getting started

The process that would foreseeably send Sebastian Vettel to Aston Martin for the 2021 Formula 1 season appears to have gotten started.

It has long been speculated that four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel, who is in his sixth and final season driving for Ferrari this year, would be on the move to Racing Point, the team set to be rebranded as Aston Martin, next season.

There were a few things preventing this move from becoming a reality, however.

The team’s current driver lineup consists of Sergio Perez, who signed a three-year contract extension with the team in August of 2019, and Lance Stroll, the son of team owner Lawrence Stroll.

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The belief behind the predicted Vettel move was that Perez’s contract contained an out clause that would allow the team to cut ties with him following the 2020 season.

Perez himself admitted that if he had to choose between his son and another driver, he would choose his son.

Now that decision won’t have to be made, as the 30-year-old Mexican has confirmed that he will not be back with the team next year.

While Perez’s departure announcement does not come amid the confirmation of another driver at Racing Point/Aston Martin, it is clear that he wouldn’t be making the decision to leave out of the blue simply because he felt that it was time to move on. In his official announcement, he did, after all, note that he did not have a “Plan B”.

As a result, it appears inevitable now that Vettel is set to team up with Stroll beginning in the 2021 season.

Okay, so it always has — but now the path is just much more clear beyond speculation.

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Let’s also not forget the “random” elbow bump shared between Vettel and the elder Stroll in the paddock at Silverstone Circuit earlier this season — on camera for the whole world to see.

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