2007 Aston Martin Db9 Base Coupe 2-door 6.0l on 2040-cars

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Sebastian Vettel signs with Racing Point for the 2021 F1 season

LONDON — Four-time Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel will drive for Racing Point starting next season. The team, which will be renamed Aston Martin, announced the move Thursday, a day after driver Sergio Perez said he was on his way out. The team said Vettel has signed for the 2021 season “and beyond" but did not reveal the length of the contract. “The signing of Sebastian is a clear statement of the teamÂ’s ambition to establish itself as one of the most competitive names in the sport," the team said in a statement. “As a four-time world champion, Sebastian brings a fresh mindset to the team." One of the most successful drivers in F1, Vettel is leaving Ferrari at the end of this season after he was not offered a new contract. He will be replaced by McLaren driver Carlos Sainz at Ferrari next year. Vettel has won 53 grand prix races, a tally only surpassed by Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton. He won four consecutive titles with Red Bull from 2010-13 and joined Ferrari in 2015 with the aim to win another. But he never had a car really capable of challenging Mercedes during his stint with the Scuderia, where he lost his No. 1 status as teammate Charles Leclerc came to prominence. “ItÂ’s a new adventure for me with a truly legendary car company," Vettel said. “I have been impressed with the results the team has achieved this year, and I believe the future looks even brighter. I still have so much love for Formula One and my only motivation is to race at the front of the grid." Currently fourth in the constructors' standings, Racing Point was handed a 400,000 euro ($470,000) fine and docked 15 points last month for copying a Mercedes design for its brake ducts. The team, however, was allowed to continue to use the offending components this season. Racing PointÂ’s other driver is Lance Stroll, the son of co-owner Lawrence Stroll. Motorsports Aston Martin Ferrari F1 Sebastian Vettel

Aston Martin DB11 spied in production sheetmetal

Aston Martin has taken yet another step toward debuting its long-awaited replacement for the DB9, the DB11, ditching the heavy, obstructive plastic cladding for production sheetmetal and stick-on camouflage. The move gives us our best look yet at the automaker's next volume grand tourer. Opinions on whether or not this new car gets its inspiration from the DB10 featured in the James Bond film Spectre are divided. From what we can tell, the profiles are virtually identical between the cinematic machine and this DB11 mule, and it looks like the DB10's thin taillights sit in larger cutouts below a similarly shaped trunk lid. The DB11 does look to get some kind of spoiler, though, and it may even be a pop-up item, neither of which were featured on the Bond car. The biggest differences between the movie coupe and the road car are found on the front end. The headlights are certainly larger and have had their shape tweaked. They now run further up into the fenders, giving just a hint of Ferrari F12. Even so, they're still unmistakably Aston Martin units. That's also true of the grille, which ditches the concept-spec single element on the DB10 for a more conventional upper and lower unit. We have no explanation for one element, though. Look closely at the C-pillar, and you'll notice what looks almost like some kind of vent. Our spies argue that it's an aerodynamic item, like you'd see on the C-pillar of a BMW i8, but we aren't sure. Were it a pure aero aid, we'd expect to be able to see through the other side, like you can with the i8 or something like an Air Curtain. Instead, it could be some kind of air intake for cooling. That's just conjecture, but it's not unreasonable. But what's under the hood? Our spies did some digging and doubt that it's Aston's traditional 6.0-liter V12. Instead, registration data for the prototype shown above lists its engine displacement at 5.2 liters, with our spies claiming forced induction will be used. It's not clear if this engine is a product of of Aston's relationship with Mercedes-AMG – the only V12 you'll get from the Germans is a 6.0-liter twin-turbo, while it also sells a 5.5-liter, twin-turbo V8 – but it seems like a possibility. Check out the spy shots up at the top of the page for the full battery of spy images. Related Video:

Best of 2016 | The List

The List hosts Jessi and Patrick spent all of 2016 checking awesome adventures off their automotive bucket list, from escaping a car dangling off a cliff, to taking part in The Great Race road rally. In total, our hosts checked 12 challenges off Autoblog's list of "1,001 car things to do before you die," taking them on travels across the United States and the United Kingdom. Check out some highlights from the season as our hosts drive everything from the super modern to the refreshingly classic, and even take their lives into their own hands all for the sake of completing the ultimate car enthusiast's bucket list. As we look ahead to 2017, be sure to send us your automotive bucket list items. Who knows, maybe your submission will inspire Jessi and Patrick's next escapade. Click here to find more episodes of The List Click here to learn more about our hosts, Jessi and Patrick Aston Martin Bentley Land Rover McLaren The List Videos