Sergio Pérez tries to clear the Vettel rumor at Racing Point

Between the complaint filed by Renault against the Racing Point RP20 and rumors of his replacement by Sebastian Vettel in 2021, Sergio Pérez was probably prepared to spend a lively media day in Budapest (Hungary) where the F1 set up its marquee this week.

Since the last Styrian Grand Prix, the rumor mill has indeed gained intensity on the transfer market. It's first the German publication BILD, generally well informed about Sebastian Vettel, who announced at the start of the week that the quadruple German world champion was in discussions with Racing Point with a view to switching to pink from 2021. The Silverstone team would have even presented a contract to the driver Ferrari.

ESPN Mexico then reported that Pérez's entourage, notably his manager Julian Jakobi, who formerly looked after Ayrton Senna and Juan Pablo Montoya, was discussing with other teams in the paddock to find a possible base for his client.

In this story, the initial premise is that it is rather Pérez who gives way to Vettel, and not Lance stroll, for fairly obvious reasons. His father, Canadian businessman Lawrence Stroll, runs the Racing Point team as well as the manufacturer Aston Martin, who will take over from 2021.

Pressed with questions on the subject at the FIA ​​press conference at the Hungaroring, Pérez, who signed a contract extension with Racing Point until 2022 last year, demonstrated his usual professionalism.

“As far as I know, I have a contract with the team, replied the Mexican as a preamble. We'll see what happens in the coming weeks, but I have a contract with the team."

Approach from a rival team

Asked if he was 100% convinced of staying in pink next year, the Mexican responded “that you never knew what could happen in Formula 1” and added that he had already received external requests. “I know I have a contract, Pérez repeated. This week, after the rumors appeared, we were contacted by a team in the paddock whose name I will not mention out of respect, but also not by other teams outside of F1.

It’s quite surprising because we have a contract for the next two seasons. For now, these are just rumors. I have nothing to add on the subject except that I have a contract.”

The Guadalajara veteran, present in F1 since the 2011 season and within the former Force India team since 2014, ensures that he is not destabilized by this kind of speculation around his future in the premier category.

“It’s part of the job, Pérez tempered. It’s nice to hear prestigious names being associated with our team. This means we are doing a good job. The team can be proud of the situation. I’ve been in F1 for 10 years so I’m used to this kind of thing.”

At his side, Lance Stroll simply blurted out that he was “determined to stay with the team” when asked if he was ready to give up his place to Vettel. Oddly enough, not many journalists seem to be really worried about the future of the young Montrealer.