Sebastian Vettel has confirmed he’s held talks with Racing Point about a drive for next year, but insists there is nothing “concrete” in place as yet.
Media reports this week linked Vettel to a move to the team, which is due to be rebranded Aston Martin next year.
Such a deal would see the four-time world champion stay on the F1 grid next year, but would also mean either Sergio Perez or Lance Stroll, who both have contracts for 2021, would have to look elsewhere.
Some reports claimed a deal was ready to be signed, but Vettel insists discussions are not that far advanced.
“At this stage, I think it’s talks,” he said. “I said last week I have been in talks with Renault for example, it’s also talks.
“At a later stage with anyone I think it would become a bit more concrete. The truth is that there is nothing to announce and nothing more concrete than loose talks.”
Vettel, who will be replaced by Carlos Sainz at Ferrari next year, said he was still considering all of his options for 2021.
“Well I think rumours are called rumours for a reason,” he said. “Anyway, now only a couple of days after [the last race in] Austria, there’s not much that has changed. Given you mentioned I was talking at length, probably no point for me to expand on this.
“The fact is there is no news.
“If you ask about Racing Point, everyone is talking about Racing Point, the first two races have been impressive, the performance on track. When it comes to myself, no news, nothing has changed in a week.
“I said last time it will probably take some time, most importantly for myself to make the decision, the right decision for myself. Once there is something to say, I think that will be the right time in future to do so.
“Anything at this stage is still open: driving next year, not driving next year and maybe coming back or not driving and doing something different. I’m not pressured to make my decision too quickly.”
Asked if the rebranded Aston Martin team is his only option to stay in F1 next year, Vettel added: “There’s two ways to look at it, one is on paper, which seats there are, which there are not. For that, I have too little information about contracts, and what are peoples’ contracts and so on.
“Other thing is I have been around for long time and you never know, things can always change, irrespective of that, I have to make decision myself, and see if there is something suitable in that direction.”
Speaking earlier on the same day, Perez said he still had a contract with Racing Point for 2021, but that the speculation about his future had led to a rival F1 team approaching him about a drive for next year. Stroll, the son of team owner Lawrence Stroll, simply said he was “determined to stay” at Racing Point.