Sebastian Vettel will reportedly race alongside Lance Stroll at Aston Martin in 2021, according to his former team boss Gerhard Berger.
Vettel’s future looks uncertain after Ferrari chose not to renew his contract after this year, leaving him with just a couple of options, one being a sabbatical, one being retirement and the other a midfield seat.
With no top drives available after Mercedes and Red Bull both slammed the door on the four-time World Champion – followed by Renault and also McLaren – Vettel’s only option is Racing Point which will be known as Aston Martin next year.
However over the weekend that door seemingly closed too, with Racing Point team boss Otmar Szafnauer insisting there is no room for Vettel.
“It is flattering that everyone thinks a four-time world champion should come to our team, but maybe that’s because the car is a bit quicker now,” he said.
“But we have long contracts with both of our drivers, so it would only be logical that we don’t have space.”
However Berger reckons team owner Lawrence Stroll will dump Sergio Perez in order to hire a proven champion for Aston Martin, as a big name driver will boost the team in terms of results and marketing.
“I can imagine that Sebastian will appear at Racing Point,” Berger told Servus TV.
“To my knowledge, Perez has a so-called soft contract, which can be terminated relatively easily.”
This is something Red Bull team boss Christian Horner alluded to in his comments on the matter.
“I don’t think Lance is going to get parked,” said Horner. “Of course drivers contracts between the teams, you never know what is within them, it’s only the contract recognition board which has full sight of them.
“I’m sure perhaps they have options or break points, but that’s really none of our business.”
Vettel was also seen speaking to Mercedes chief Toto Wolff at the weekend, with the German a shareholder in Aston Martin and a good friend of Lawrence Stroll.
Meanwhile Germany’s Bild reports that Vettel has already begun negotiations with Racing Point and that a deal could be announced in the coming weeks.
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