Vettel ‘hasn’t called’ over an Aston Martin drive

Racing Point boss Otmar Szafnauer says there have been no talks with Sebastian Vettel over a 2021 drive, not even a “phone call”.

The four-time World Champion will leaveFerrariat the end of the year, and his future is yet to be decided.

But despite therumours that he could join the Racing Point teamthat will rebrand to Aston Martin for 2021, Szafnauer says he has held no talks at all with his friend Vettel.

“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 the conversation,” he said on theF1 Nation podcast.

Szafnauer did say Vettel would be an asset to any team, but Racing Point are happy to continue withSergio Perez and Lance Stroll.

He sees Perez as the complete driver, while he expects Stroll to eventually overtake Perez for ability.

“I can’t speak for Seb but we all know what a great job he’s done,” said Szafnauer.

“He won early on in the Toro Rosso which was fantastic, and four World Championships. He’s had some great races and I think at his relatively young age of 33 he still has some good years left in him. But that’s not for me to say.

“We’re really happy with our driver line-up and they’re signed up as well, they work well together. We’ve got Checo [Perez], who, on aSunday is as good as anyone. He’s very calculated, very clever, good racer, looks after his tyres.

“Lance is much younger than Sergio and learning very quickly, but very, very fast. He has great starts, and when he’s in the thick of it, can race really well. And he’s learning. I think eventually Lance will overtake Sergio and having that combination of young and experience is perfect for us.”

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