Otmar Szafnauer: Sebastian Vettel 'hasn't called me' over 2021 Racing Point seat

Sebastian Vettel

Szafnauer: Vettel 'hasn't called me' over 2021 Racing Point seat

Racing Point comfortable with Perez and Stroll

Sam Hall

Saturday 13 June 2020 16:13 Updated: 12:15

Racing Point team principal Otmar Szafnauer has confirmed there have been no conversations between the team and Sebastian Vettel over a 2021 seat.

Speculation continues to bubble as to where - or if - Vettel will be competing in 2021. Racing Point, the team that will be renamed Aston Martin in '21, has been suggested as a potential destination.

When asked about the prospect of signing Vettel, Szafnauer initially joked on the F1 Nation podcast: "You mean sabbatical Vettel?"

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He then added: "I can't speak for Seb apart from...we know what a great job he's done. He won early on in a Toro Rosso which is fantastic, and four world-championships.

"He's had some great races, and I think, at his relatively young age at 33 [sic, he is 32], he still has a few good years left in him, but that's not for me to say [whether he might move to Racing Point].

"We're really happy with our driver line-up, and they're signed up as well. They work really well together.

"We've got Checo [Sergio Perez], who, on a Sunday, is as good as anyone. He's a calculated, very clever racer. He looks after his tyres.

"Lance is much younger than Sergio and is learning very, very quickly but is very fast. He has great starts and, when he's in the thick of it, will race really, really well.

"I think eventually, Lance will overtake Sergio, and having that combination of youth and experience is perfect for us."

Given the noticeable lack of an answer to the question of 'could Vettel join Racing Point?', Szafnauer was again pressed for an answer.

He replied: "Seb and I have been friends for a long time, even before he was a Formula 1 driver I knew him, and ironically he hasn't called me. So I haven't had a conversation with him."

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