Racing Point boss plays down Seb talk

Sebastian Vettel has been linked with a switch to Racing Point next year, but team principal Otmar Szafnauer insists he hasn’t spoken with the four-time world champ since his Ferrari exit was announced.

Vettel’s future in Formula One beyond the end of the season has been the subject of intense speculation after it was confirmed last month he would end his association with the Scuderia at the end of the 2020 campaign. Former F1 driver David Coulthard has said Vettel would be a “brilliant asset” at Silverstone-based Racing Point, which is next year set to be rebranded as Aston Martin.

But while Szafnauer spoke warmly of Vettel and their friendship that has spanned a number of years, the Racing Point boss is happy with his current driver line-up of Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll. “Seb and I have been friends for a long time. Even before he was a Formula One driver, I knew him and, ironically, he hasn’t called me, so I haven’t had the conversation,” Szafnauer said. “He’s had some great races, and I think at his relatively young age of 33 he still has some good years left

Barry Nonnel had a great session float-tubing on the Harelaw Dam, near Neilston, where he caught and released 13 fish, using Buzzers, the Diawl Bach and a Fab.

Fishing from the boats, Stuart Strachan had 16, Tam Brown and Vick Donati shared

11, Paul Mcnair took eight and David Burrell managed three. Bank anglers doing well included Kevin Mcparland with four and Willie Manning, also with four.

It’s fantastic to hear that the famous Loch Leven at Kinross is, at last, coming back on song with some anglers catching fabulous specimens in the 3-5lb range. Well-known Kinross husband-and-wife duo,

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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.”

Vettel won four world titles at Red Bull before moving to Ferrari five years ago. But he has had a barren spell with the Italian marque, finishing runner-up to Lewis Hamilton in the drivers’ championships in 2017 and 2018. However, last year he was outshone by younger team-mate, Charles Leclerc, who collected more wins, points and poles than the German.

Mark Webber – Vettel’s team-mate for all four of his world titles – believes the 33-year-old would benefit from a year away from the sport.

“I think he’ll have a year off,” the Australian said. “I hope, for all of us, he can rejuvenate himself and get back into the spirit of wanting to be competing at the front again in Formula One.”

Richard and Helen Philp, shared a brace of beauties and their taking flies were a Soldier Palmer and a Clan Chief. Richard reported a good head of fish at the North Buoy. Although not one of the classic Loch Leven favourites, this variant of the Fiery Brown by Terry Widdall would certainly warrant a swim there.

The hook is a size-1214 Kamasan B175, the tying thread is 14/0 brown, and the tail is fiery brown mallard flank.

The body is fiery brown Vicuna dubbing, palmered with red game cock and ribbed with Pearly tinsel and copper wire.

Finish with a cloak hackle of fiery brown mallard flank.

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