Sebastian Vettel says he is “happy with all my heart” that Sergio Perez was given the second Red Bull seat for this year.

The four-time former World Champion inadvertently helped it to happen because he took Perez’s place at the team now known as Aston Martin.

For a period of over three months from that point, the Mexican was without a 2021 drive. But just after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final race of last season, it was confirmed he was taking over Alex Albon’s position alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull.

Performance-wise, it has been something of a roller-coaster first nine races in the RB16B for Perez, but more ups than downs – he won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, ironically with Vettel finishing runner-up, and has helped the team to a 44-point lead over Mercedes in the Constructors’ World Championship standings.