“No space” for Vettel at Aston Martin in F1 2021 - Szafnauer

Racing Point chief Otmar Szafnauer has made it clear that there is “no space” for Sebastian Vettel when it becomes the Aston Martin Formula 1 team next year.

With his impending exit from Ferrari once his contract expires at the end of the season confirmed, Vettel has continued to be linked with the Racing Point-Aston Martin project for 2021.

Vettel has been left without a drive for next season and has already missed out on potential landing spots at McLaren and Renault, with Daniel Ricciardo’s seat at Enstone getting filled by two-time would champion Fernando Alonso this week.

The four-time world champion said he would be open to return to Red Bull but team principal Christian Horner has shut the door on such a move.

That has left Racing Point as one of the last remaining vacancies, although the soon-to-be-rebranded Aston Martin outfit already has long-term contracts for current drivers Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Styrian Grand Prix, Szafnauer firmly ruled out a move for Vettel.

"It is flattering that everyone thinks a four-time world champion should come to our team, but maybe that's because the car is a bit quicker now," he said.

"But we have long contracts with both of our drivers, so it would only be logical that we don't have space.”

On Thursday Vettel stressed he would take time before making a final decision about his future and also spoke about Racing Point’s prospects for the 2020 season.

“I think Racing Point made a very strong impression, and are certainly in a good place for this year,” Vettel explained.

"I know part of the team, I know some members of the team quite well from my past and for a long time.

“It's obviously a good opportunity for them this year to have a good car to fight with and try and improve from there.”