Vettel hopes Racing Point switch can revive career

Four times world champion Sebastian Vettel will drive for Racing Point next season after signing a multi-year deal with the team.

Racing Point will rebrand as Aston Martin in 2021 and Vettel, deemed surplus to requirements by Ferrari, will head up the project.

The 33-year-old German will team up with Lance St roll ,21, the son of Canadian fashion billionaire Lawrence Stroll, a co-owner of Racing Point.

The announcement comes after Sergio Perez revealed on Wed n esday that he was no longer wanted by Racing Point after seven years with the Silverstone-based team.

Vettel said: “I’m extremely proud to say that I will become an Aston Martin driver in 2021. It’s 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.

“I still have so much love for Formula 1 and my only motivation is to race at the front of the grid. To do so with Aston Martin will be a huge privilege.”

Team principal Ot mar Szafnauer added: “Sebastian is a proven champion and I can’t think of a better driver to help take us into this new era.”

Vettel heads into the Tuscan Grand Prix this weekend a lowly 13th in the drivers’ championship and in the middle of the worst campaign of his career.

He will be replaced by current McLaren dr iver Carlos Sainz at Ferrari next year.

The Italian team’s drivers’ title drought stretches back to 2007 and Vettel, who won four consecutive titles with Red Bull from 2010 -13 and has the third most wins in the sport’ s history behind Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, was signed to bring that to an end. But the S cuderia hierarchy grew tired of a number of errorstrewn seasons by Vettel as Hamilton marched to the last three championships.

Charles Leclerc’s arrival last year hastened his exit and Vet telw ill hope the move to Racing Point will breathe life into his career.