Stroll: Vettel will be 'a big eye-opener' for the team

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Lance Stroll believes Aston Martin Racing is set to learn a lot from Sebastian Vettel, while his future teammate will also be a "great benchmark" for himself.

After the announcement of Sergio Perez's departure from Racing Point at the end of the season, Vettel was unsurprisingly confirmed as the Mexican's replacement from 2021.

The hiring of the four-time world champion will elevate the profile of the Silverstone-based outfit and the Aston Martin brand, but Stroll believes Vettel's vast experience will help the team step up to the next level.

Stroll rues slow restart that undermined Italian GP win

"It’s very exciting to see him come to the team," the 21-year-old told Sky Sports. "He’s an incredibly successful driver with four World Championships in his pocket and a tremendous amount of knowledge under his belt.

"He’ll be a big help all around. He has a tremendous amount of experience, he can bring a lot from where he’s come from over the years at Red Bull and Ferrari. It’ll be a big eye-opener for the team, I think we’ll learn a lot.

"For myself, he’s going to be a great benchmark. He’s a very successful driver, one of the best, so yeah I’m really looking forward to it.

"I only see a bright future. This year we’ve come a long way and I believe we’ll just keep making steps in the right direction."

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Stroll validated his ongoing progress in F1 with a solid drive to third in last weekend's Italian Grand Prix, a race he claims he could have won but for his sluggish start at the restart of the eventful race.

"A part of me was a little disappointed, I’m not going to lie," he admitted.

"There was the opportunity to win the race, and I was a little bit frustrated that we didn’t capitalise on that.

"At the same time a podium is always so great and I was happy for the team, and it was a lot of points in the bag which is great. That’s what brought me to P4 in the Championship over the weekend.

"It’s just great to see some different faces on the podium, and I think the fans really enjoyed it too. It was something unexpected, a little bit different."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.