Vettel future in Formula 1: Ex-Schumi colleague would not be surprised by a solution 

What is Sebastian Vettel doing? The German Formula 1 driver has a few options after his Ferrari retirement. Does he even choose to withdraw?

• The future of Sebastian Vettel * continues to occupy Formula 1 *.
• Which team does the German start after his Ferrari exit *?
• Now there is obviously a new option. 

Update from May 28, 9:33 am: Sebastian Vettel's future in Formula 1 is also vacant because many consider his time at Ferrari to be a failure. But now a former pilot jumps to his side. Felipe Massa - driver of the Ferrari from 2006 to 2013 - has put in a good word for the German. 

"One shouldn't forget that Ferrari last won the (constructors') championship in 2008," said Massa at Sky Sports. Vettel was with Ferrari from 2015 to 2020. 

“So it's not just about Sebastian. Sebastian drove many great races, he won many races, or he fought ”, Massa defends the 32-year-old's performance. 

Massa would be a resignation is not surprising. After the big racing teams had canceled, Aston Martin and Renault would be available for Vettel to choose from. However, a confidant (update from May 27, 2:20 p.m.) said that Vettel absolutely wants to ride with a winning racing team. 

Vettel future in Formula 1: confidant now reveals his plans - "If he ..."

Update from May 27, 2:20 p.m .: Sebastian Vettel doesn't have many options . Some racing teams have already made their lineups public for the next season - others are still waiting. Now a confidant has chatted about Vettel's claims. He knows when the German would and would not continue his career. 

Helmut Marko , Red Bull's motorsport director at Sport1, revealed that he is in contact with Vettel . "I spoke to Seb and the tenor was: If he can join a winning team, he will go on ." Marko has been working in the motorsport department since 2005 and accompanied Vettel during his most successful Formula 1 period. 

Sounds like Vettel is waiting for the good option. But how does the German define “chances of winning”? One can be excited. 

Update from May 27, 1:22 p.m .: A predecessor of Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari has commented on the health of F1 legend Michael Schumacher. "I know how he is doing," says Felipe Massa, who once drove at the Scuderia together with Schumacher.

Vettel's options are getting fewer: next Formula 1 racing team cancels him - "I can't pay for this"

Update from May 26, 2:26 p.m .:  Sebastian Vettel gets the next basket! Again a racing team cancels the four-time world champion - and that's because he is world champion. 

"I don't think he wants to be in the middle of the field again as a four-time world champion," says Haas team manager Guenther Steiner on the program "The F1 Show" on British broadcaster Sky F1. The Austrian can only imagine the racing driver with a top team. The Haas team scored a total of 29 World Cup points in 2019. 

"If you have a successful career, you don't want to take too much risk anymore," says Steiner , who honestly says: " I can't pay for it ". Vettel will also not pedal for the US team. And Steiner says that without ever really talking about a contract offer with Vettel. "I didn't offer him a seat. I think someone else with much deeper pockets than me will do that, ”says Steiner, who is currently betting on Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen . 

Vettel's future: Rumor about a new racing team persists - suddenly a legend could snap his cockpit away

Update from May 26, 9:05 a.m .: Sebastian Vettel and the end with the Formula 1 flagship racing team Ferrari came abruptly. The pilot's future is now hotly debated. After Vettel's exit, Carlos Sainz was signed by Ferrari. Because a seat in the McLaren was now free, Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo took over. So Renault has space again - possibly for Vettel?

The team bosses are also aware of the castling within Formula 1. Cyril Abiteboul, by his name Renault boss, spoke to Motorsport-Total.com and keeps himself covered, but knows that Vettel is available. 

“We are not yet a race and have not even driven a session. To be honest, I don't know how competitive our car is, ”said Abiteboul. And if you start the 2021 season alongside Renault driver Esteban Ocon, you could still spend a few months on the decision. 

"We are assuming that we will be part of a second wave," said Abiteboul about the driver's carousel. At Renault, Fernando Alonso is also to be traded. Alonso was world champion in Renault in 2005 and 2006. 

Sebastian Vettel / Formula 1: Surprising idea - Has he already found a new racing team?

First report from May 24th:

Munich - What does Sebastian Vettel's future look like ? After his surprising retirement at Ferrari *, there is much speculation about the future of the German Formula 1 driver *. Vettel sponsor Helmut Marko recently made it clear that the Heppenheimer would definitely not do "any middle class team". Without a title chance, a racing team is absolutely uninteresting for the four-time world champion. But there aren't that many options for the 32-year-old.

Sebastian Vettel / Formula 1: New option seems to be opening up 

Ferrari quickly found a Vettel successor * in Carlos Sainz . The Spaniard, in turn, was promptly replaced by Daniel Ricciardo in the McLaren cockpit - a first option for Vettel was straight off the table. Vettel's ex-racing team Red Bull also refrained from making a comeback. Recently, there was also speculation about a switch to Mercedes * , but the Silver Arrows initially ruled out quick negotiations. In addition, there are also rumors about the possible end of the triple father's career. Or is everything different? Now there should be a new possibility for Vettel .

Unclear future: where is Sebastian Vettel going?

© picture alliance / dpa / Fabian Sommer

Sebastian Vettel / Formula 1: Future of Heppenheimer - Aston Martin "an option"?

Former racing driver David Coulthard believes it is possible to switch to the new Aston Martin racing team . This could be "an option", you just have to think outside the box , the 49-year-old Brit said in the podcast "F1 Nation" on F1.com and added: "At this point in his career, Vettel could be a brilliant addition to such a team "He is still very fast and can use all his knowledge and experience from years at Red Bull and Ferrari , said the former vice world champion.

The British sports car maker Aston Martin also wants to start with a works team in Formula 1 next year and will soon also attack the top. The project is led by Canadian entrepreneur Lawrence Stroll . With a group of investors, he pumped more than 600 million euros into the battered car maker. In 2021, Stroll's current Team Racing Point, for which his son Lance also drives, will become Aston Martin's racing team.

Between 1994 and 2008 David Coulthard competed for the 246 Grand Prix for Williams, McLaren and Red Bull

© picture alliance / dpa / Erwin Scheriau

For Vettel, Coulthard can imagine more than the role of a pilot. "Is he going to Aston Martin, joining as a partner and starting another chapter in his career?" He asked. However, it still seems uncertain whether this idea will ultimately become reality - and thus fits perfectly into Sebastian Vettel's unclear future.

After a cheat in a virtual race, Daniel Abt has to vacate his Formula E cockpit at Audi.

* tz.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network

List of rubric lists: © AFP / ANDREAS SOLARO