This archive report was first published on 3 August 2020.
Formula One fans are abuzz with speculation after Sebastian Vettel was spotted casually bumping elbows with Lawrence Stroll, the owner of Racing Point, ahead of the British Grand Prix on August 3, 2020.
According to Sky F1's Ted Kravitz, the seemingly innocuous gesture may have been more than just a friendly hello. Kravitz suggested that the elbow bump could be a sign that Vettel is indeed set to join Racing Point in 2021, as previously rumored.
Just last month, it was reported that Vettel was at the top of Racing Point's list for 2021 drivers, with Lawrence Stroll wanting the German to drive alongside his son, Lance Stroll. The Canadian billionaire was reportedly set to trigger an exit clause in Sergio Perez's contract, making a seat available for Vettel.
However, Perez's positive Covid-19 test ahead of the British Grand Prix threw a wrench into those plans, and Racing Point announced that he would not be competing in the race. Instead of announcing Vettel as a 2021 driver, the team opted to keep silent on its 2021 lineup.
“I thought it was an interesting elbow bump between Sebastian Vettel and Lawrence Stroll, the owner of the Racing Point team,” Kravitz said. “Rumour was at the beginning of the weekend that we might get an announcement that a deal had been done for Seb to join Racing Point next year on a multi-year contract when it becomes Aston Martin but then Sergio Perez's Covid-19 positive test came through and it was clear that there wasn't going to be any kind of announcement.
“I think maybe the deal isn't properly done but it does seem that we've had movement this weekend on that and there seems to be little doubt in this paddock right now that Sebastian Vettel will be wearing some sort of silver, pink or green, depending on who the sponsors are of Aston Martin next year,” Kravitz added.
Vettel, however, has made it clear that he won't be rushed into making a decision. The German driver told reporters ahead of the British Grand Prix that he is still weighing up his options and that it could still be a 'couple of weeks' before he has something to announce.
