However, Sergio Pérez announced on Wednesday that he would be leaving Racing Point at the end of the current season despite having a contract until 2022, which would free up a spot on the starting grid.
“I am very proud to be driving an Aston Martin in 2021,” Vettel said in a statement. “This is a new adventure for me with a truly legendary car company. I have been impressed with the results the team has achieved this year and I believe the future looks even brighter.
“The energy and determination of Lawrence [Stroll, Racing Point part-owner] sport is inspiring and I believe that together we can create something special.
“I still love Formula 1 so much and my only motivation is to race ahead of the grid. To do this with Aston Martin is a huge privilege.”
Vettel won four consecutive world titles with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013, but his riding has been plagued by errors lately. In 2018, several mistakes in the second half of the season saw Vettel miss out on the championship lead and Ferrari’s chances for the first world title since 2007.
Vettel is 13th in the drivers’ standings with just 16 points this season and is 29 points behind teammate Leclerc.
However, in terms of the number of victories, Vettel ranks third in the history of sports, second only to Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton.
Racing Point said the deal with Vettel “is a clear statement of the team’s ambition to establish itself as one of the most competitive names in the sport.”
“Everyone at Silverstone is very excited about this news,” said team principal Otmar Szafnauer. “Sebastian is a recognized champion and his winning mentality is in line with our own ambitions for the future of the Aston Martin F1 team.
“Saturday or Sunday afternoon, Sebastian is one of the best in the world and I can’t think of a better driver to help us enter this new era. He will play a significant role in taking this team to the next level. . “
