Berlin (dpa) - The four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel should leave the Formula 1 team Ferrari according to consistent media reports at the end of the year. The 32-year-old from Heppenheim will therefore not renew his contract with Scuderia and will leave the Italians after six years.
Neither side could agree on a new contract, the move could be made public on Tuesday. This was reported by "Bild", "Auto, Motor und Sport" and "Motorsport-Total.com". There is no confirmation from Ferrari.
So far, Vettel has been chasing his dream of becoming a world champion with Ferrari like Michael Schumacher. In the previous season, he finished in disappointing fifth place in the World Cup and had to again defeat the overpowering Mercedes. His aspiring stable rival Charles Leclerc also landed in front of him. The 22-year-old Monegasse signed a working paper that was valid until the end of 2024 before Christmas 2019. Leclerc is the team's great hope for the future, while Vettel is said to have only been offered one contract for another year.
Vettel had recently said in a video conference that there was no deadline for an extension. "Whatever the deal will look like, the team and I will have to feel comfortable with it," said the German, who had not been able to build on his success with Red Bull since arriving at Ferrari for the 2015 season. He had won his four World Cup titles between 2010 and 2013 with the then almost unbeatable Red Bull racing team.
This year Vettel was not even on the track. Due to the corona virus pandemic, all planned races have either been postponed or canceled. The start of the Formula 1 season is currently targeted for July 5 in Austria.
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