It’s the end of the road for Sebastian Vettel and the Ferrari Formula 1.
The romance started in 2015 where Vettel enjoyed some success with a newly invigorated Ferrari team after the arrival of Maurizio Arrivabene. Over the course of Vettel’s Ferrari career, he’s collected 14 victories for the Scuderia and he finished runner up twice in the driver’s championship in 2017 and 2018.
Ferrari says that the two parties had mutually agreed to the separation.
“This is a decision taken jointly by ourselves and Sebastian, one which both parties feel is for the best. It was not an easy decision to reach, given Sebastian’s worth as a driver and as a person,” said Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto.
“There was no specific reason that led to this decision, apart from the common and amicable belief that the time had come to go our separate ways in order to reach our respective objectives.
“On behalf of everyone at Ferrari, I want to thank Sebastian for his great professionalism and the human qualities he has displayed over these five years, during which we shared so many great moments. We have not yet managed to win a world title together, which would be a fifth for him, but we believe that we can still get a lot out of this unusual 2020 season.”
Sebastian Vettel: “My relationship with Scuderia Ferrari will finish at the end of 2020. In order to get the best possible results in this sport, it’s vital for all parties to work in perfect harmony.
The team and I have realised that there is no longer a common desire to stay together beyond the end of this season.
Financial matters have played no part in this joint decision. That’s not the way I think when it comes to making certain choices and it never will be.
What’s been happening in these past few months has led many of us to reflect on what are our real priorities in life. One needs to use one’s imagination and to adopt a new approach to a situation that has changed. I myself will take the time I need to reflect on what really matters when it comes to my future.
Scuderia Ferrari occupies a special place in Formula 1 and I hope it gets all the success it deserves. Finally, I want to thank the whole Ferrari family and above all its “tifosi” all around the world, for the support they have given me over the years. My immediate goal is to finish my long stint with Ferrari, in the hope of sharing some more beautiful moments together, to add to all those we have enjoyed so far.”
There is word that Vettel might make a move to McLaren or Renault. At this point, it’s just wild speculation. He may just quit the sport altogether and retire.
Rumours circulating last season when his performances were trumped by his teammate Charles Leclerc that the German has fell out of love with the sport and that Ferrari has given Leclerc preference over himself. This may have lead to him making his final decision.
The 2020 season has not yet begun and by the look of it, there might not be many races this season. It will be interesting to see how things play out over the rest of the year.
Lewis Hamilton is another driver out of contract at the end of the season and is expected to carry on racing with Mercedes. Mercedes has been the team with the best car since the hybrid era in Formula 1 began and have won the Drivers Championship and Constructors Championship since 2014. Hamilton has a good chance of beating Michael Schumacher’s 7-world titles at Mercedes.
