Four-time World Drivers’ Champion Sebastian Vettel will be leaving Ferrari at the end of the 2020 F1 season. The “joint decision” will end his six-year partnership with Ferrari.
Vettel originally signed with the Prancing Horse in 2015 in a surprising exit from Red Bull Racing, following a tough season for the former World Champion. He was originally paired with Kimi Raikkonen and was able to consistently out-perform his teammate, although the Ferrari team was still not able to take the title from the dominant Mercedes.
Raikkonen moved to the Alfa Romeo team at the end of 2018 to make room for Ferrari’s newcomer, Charles Leclerc. Leclerc showed good performance relative to his teammate, with 10 podium finishes, 2 wins, 7 pole positions and an average finishing position of 4.2 (excluding 2 retirements) that earned him 264 points in 2019. This is compared to Vettel’s 9 podium finishes, 1 win, 2 pole positions and average finishing position of 5.1 (excluding 2 retirements) that earned him just 240 points.
Although Ferrari’s team principal, Mattia Binotto, said in a press statement that there was “no specific reason that led to this decision”, Vettel confirmed that financial factors did not play a role in the decision.
“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,” Vettel explained. “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.”
It is believed that Vettel rejected a short-term contract offered by Ferrari at a reduced salary relative to previous seasons.
It’s unclear what Vettel’s future will hold, with limited seats available for the 2021 season. It’s also unclear who will fill his empty seat at Ferrari. The names of many drivers – including Carlos Sainz, Daniel Ricciardo and even Fernando Alonso – but only time will tell.
