Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll will get equal opportunities when they become teammates at the Aston Martin Formula 1 team next year, accor🦂ding to Racing Point chief Otmar Szafnauer.

On Thursday, Racing Po🍌int announced that Vettel would be replacing Sergio Perez for the 20♔21 season when it completes its rebrand to Aston Martin.

The Silverstone-outfit’s CEO and team principal also confirmed that Stroll’s position was never under threat from the impending arr♏ival of Vettel, adding Perez෴ would have always been the driver to make way.

"Lance has been with us for a couple of years," Szafnauer said on Frida♛y ahead of the Tuscan Grand Prix at Mugello.

"He's a young𒈔 man at 21 years old. And yeah, his father does own the team.

"So when we♔ look to make a driver change because Sebastian became available, it would have been Checo.

"There are opti﷽ons in his contract, and those options didn't exist for Lan🔯ce."

"He's in the ascendancy, enjoying his strongest year in the ℱsport so far and sits fourth in the championship off the back of a podium. And there is more potential to come.

"He's clearly demonstrating his talent and is fully deserving of hi🧜s place alongside Sebastian next year."

But despite Stroll’s family link, with his father Lawrence being 🎃the owner of the team, Szafnauer str💫essed that Vettel will not have to play second fiddle to the Canadian.

Asked whether Vettel will be allowed to race freely against Stroll, Szafnauer replied: “We’ve always allowed our drivers to race eac♌h other, and that’ll be the same in the future.”

And Szafnauer believes Vett✨el will⛎ be the “perfect fit” to help take the team to the next level once it transitions into Aston Martin.

“He’s 33 years old, he’𒈔s still in the prime of his career,” he explained. “He’s got a vast amount of experieꦚnce. He’s still highly motivated to do well.

“He works really hard and we believe with our te👍am and what we want to take it to, the level that we want to get to, Seb’s a perfect fit for that. And I’m confident that he’ll race well.”