What end for Sebastian Vettel with Ferrari?

In 2015, Sebastian Vettel, crowned with his status as quadruple world champion (from 2010 to 2013), had landed at Ferrari with the stated ambition to put the Scuderia back on the right track by allowing him to reconnect with the title of pilots - which escapes her since 2007 and the coronation of Kimi Raikkönen - and that of the manufacturers which she hopes, in vain, since 2008.

"We never started discussions, there was never an offer (extension) on the table"

Five years later, it is clear that this promising marriage has turned sour. To the point of ending up in a secret divorce on the sly, in full confinement linked to the Covid-19 pandemic. Thursday, the German surprised by saying that a contract extension at Maranello had never been mentioned. "We never started discussions, there was never an offer on the table and therefore there was no sticking point," said Vettel, "surprised to receive a call from Mattia (Binotto, the boss of Scuderia) saying that the team did not intend to continue ”.

What, in this strange context, of this last season? How can we continue to work together harmoniously when the break-up, not at all by consent, is already approved? This will be the delicate question that Vettel and Ferrari will have to answer during a season that could well be transitional. Shaken up last year by the arrival of Charles Leclerc, Vettel never knew how to adapt, he who had grown accustomed to living in the comfort of an extremely peaceful competition with Raikkönen, the Finn never really seeking to challenge the established hierarchy.

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Quite the opposite, therefore, of the young Monegasque who landed in the Scuderia like a dog in a game of skittles. However, if the two men experienced a few gunshots and conflicts, Leclerc wanted to pay tribute to him and to thank him: “We had intense moments together on the track last year. Some fabulous and others that didn't end as we both would have liked. But there has always been respect between us, even if it has never been perceived that way by the outside world. I will never have learned as much as during this year 2019 spent by your side, my dear teammate. Thank you for everything, Seb. "

"I am sure he will leave Ferrari through the front door"

A speech after all agreed in such circumstances. It remains to be seen how Ferrari will manage this rivalry and whether the two drivers will be placed on an equal footing, which is not really a habit of the house. "I hope at least that the Italians will not impose orders on Seb by showing fair play towards him", wondered Bernie Ecclestone, great supporter of Vettel and also great connoisseur behind the scenes, not always brilliant, discipline. Sebastian knows how to be very strong mentally and he knows precisely how the team works. I am sure he will leave Ferrari through the front door. ”

Who knows if, for his farewell to the Prancing Horse, Vettel is not able to succeed where he failed five times previously? Rid of all pressure, he will have nothing to lose. Just regrets to leave when no one knows if he will still be in F1 next year. Problem, Mattia Binotto has already recognized that Ferrari would experience aero problems in Austria. Yet another headwind for Vettel.

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