When all was said and done, signing Sebastian Vettel cost Lawrence Stroll an estimated “$40 million” in total.

After months of speculation, Racing Point, which will be rebranded Aston Martin, announced on Thursday that Vettel would join the team for “2021 and beyond”.

He didn’t come cheap.

In order to sign the four-time World Champion, the Silverstone-based team had to say goodbye to Sergio Perez, and goodbye to his sponsors.

Auto Motor und Sports reports that ‘Aston Martin really wanted him [Vettel] and it will have cost the owners an estimated $40 million.’

That sum is made up of what Perez accepted to leave the team, said to be $9 million, what Aston Martin will pay Vettel, $15m, and also what losing Perez’s sponsors has taken from the team’s coffers.