Decided the German driver Sebastian Vettel, the world champion four times in Formula One racing, leaving Ferrari at the end of the 2020 season, according to today announced the Italian without revealing the identity of the driver who will succeed him team.
"My relationship with Ferrari will end at the end of 2020," Vettel said in a press release. "In order to get the best results in this sport, it is vital for all parties to work in perfect harmony." We continued with the team that there was no longer a common desire to stay together beyond the end of This season. "
In turn, team manager Mattia Pinoto said in a statement, "This decision was taken by mutual agreement between us and Sebastian, and both parties considered this to be in their best interest. It was not an easy decision given Sebastian's value as a driver and a human being ... There was no specific reason that led to this decision, except for the general belief And the valley is that it is time to move on a separate path to reach our goals. "
Vettel has been with the "wild horse" team since 2015 when he replaced instead of Spaniard Fernando Alonso, but he was unable to give him the world title, as he did four times with his former team, Red Bull. Ferrari's last world title with Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen returns in 2007.
Vettel indicated that the financial factor did not play a role in his decision. Vettel, world champion between 2010 and 2013, scored 53 wins in the world championship, including 14 with Ferrari. Last season, he faced the strong rise of his young teammate Charles Leclerc, as the son of the Principality of Monaco stole the spotlight from him and won the title of two races in exchange for one coronation of the German.
And Leclerc (22 years) , which provides Vettel in the overall standings for drivers, he had extended his contract with Ferrari until last December 2024.
After the announcement of the departure of Vettel, will be exacerbated speculation about his replacement in the Red team. Attention has recently focused on the six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, whose contract with Mercedes will come to an end at the end of the current season, which was not originally launched due to the outbreak of the new Corona virus. But Hamilton hinted that he will stay with the German team.
Among the candidates to succeed Vettel are Spanish Carlos Sainz Jr. (McLaren), Australian Daniel Ricciardo (Renault) and Italian Antonio Jovincci (Alfa Romeo).