Is 'New Stig' a headfake? (Photo comparison)

Enhanced photo of the new stig, overlaid with a photo of old stig, Ben Collins. Eyebrows, stature, heights all match.

Slash = 5'10" (1.778m) tall
Ben Collins = 6'2" (1.87m) tall (unusually tall for racing drivers)

What if the public "firing" of Ben Collins was an elaborate head fake to throw people off? We know that he still is involved with Top Gear after all. Wouldn't that be a brilliant trick that now if Ben Collins was accidentally seen around the track, no one would assume he was the stig? Hiding in plain site if you will... You be the judge.

Photos are not stretched or distorted, photo of Ben Collins simply rotated to match posture.

[Barnakos]

New stig seems not to be constant with his physical appearance. In season 16 he was qualified has having small stature. The shortness of the stig is visible although some say Sabine Schimdt filled the role for "the ashes" episode. But then he regained some height for season 17 and 18 but it's random.
My guess for a small stig would be an experienced but less active driver like a Takuma Sato or a Jacques Villeneuve, at like 5'5'' and 5'6''