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Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel shocks paddock with move to Ferrari Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel shocks paddock with move to Ferrari
(about 3 hours later)
Typhoon Phanfone was skirting the coast of Japan and threatening to disrupt the Japanese Grand Prix but an another altogether unexpected storm broke at Suzuka when the four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel announced he was quitting Red Bull.Typhoon Phanfone was skirting the coast of Japan and threatening to disrupt the Japanese Grand Prix but an another altogether unexpected storm broke at Suzuka when the four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel announced he was quitting Red Bull.
The 27-year-old German, who has yet to win a race this year, will be moving to Ferrari next season, a fact that neither the driver nor the Italian team confirmed. Instead it was left to Red Bull’s principal, Christian Horner, who has championed Vettel since he joined the team in 2009 and with whom he helped deliver 38 grand prix wins and four constructors’ titles. “Ferrari have made him a very attractive offer,” Horner said.The 27-year-old German, who has yet to win a race this year, will be moving to Ferrari next season, a fact that neither the driver nor the Italian team confirmed. Instead it was left to Red Bull’s principal, Christian Horner, who has championed Vettel since he joined the team in 2009 and with whom he helped deliver 38 grand prix wins and four constructors’ titles. “Ferrari have made him a very attractive offer,” Horner said.
It is a bold decision for Vettel - who has been part of the Red Bull programme since he was 15 – to switch to Ferarri, a team in some disarray. “A decision like that doesn’t happen overnight. It’s always a big step when a very, very good relationship comes to an end,” he said. It is a bold decision for Vettel – who has been part of the Red Bull programme since he was 15 – to switch to Ferarri, a team in some disarray. “A decision like that doesn’t happen overnight. It’s always a big step when a very, very good relationship comes to an end,” he said.
Vettel was eager to point out that the switch was not because of dissatisfaction with the team, despite a difficult season in which he has been out-raced by his team-mate, Daniel Ricciardo. His best race this season came with a second-placed finish in Singapore, the formerly dominant Red Bulls being frequently outpaced by the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.Vettel was eager to point out that the switch was not because of dissatisfaction with the team, despite a difficult season in which he has been out-raced by his team-mate, Daniel Ricciardo. His best race this season came with a second-placed finish in Singapore, the formerly dominant Red Bulls being frequently outpaced by the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.
“I think you need to understand that there’s nothing negative in the air at all.” Vettel said. “It’s not like I’m leaving because I don’t like it here or don’t like the people any more.”“I think you need to understand that there’s nothing negative in the air at all.” Vettel said. “It’s not like I’m leaving because I don’t like it here or don’t like the people any more.”
Unsurprisingly for an intelligent and thoughtful driver, Vettel certainly did not take it lightly when he told Horner he would be leaving. Asked if Vettel had been in tears, Horner replied: “Yes full, full emotion,” he said. “He was extremely emotional, very emotional. He said it was the hardest thing he had had to do.” Horner had not tried to dissuade the driver from leaving. “When somebody’s heart is so made up and so set on what he wants to do, at that point you have to set them free,” he said.Unsurprisingly for an intelligent and thoughtful driver, Vettel certainly did not take it lightly when he told Horner he would be leaving. Asked if Vettel had been in tears, Horner replied: “Yes full, full emotion,” he said. “He was extremely emotional, very emotional. He said it was the hardest thing he had had to do.” Horner had not tried to dissuade the driver from leaving. “When somebody’s heart is so made up and so set on what he wants to do, at that point you have to set them free,” he said.
Vettel will see out the season with Red Bull and has made it clear his intention is to win further world championships, but he is moving out of his comfort zone into an entirely different experience at Ferrari, who are looking to replace the two-times world champion Fernando Alonso.Vettel will see out the season with Red Bull and has made it clear his intention is to win further world championships, but he is moving out of his comfort zone into an entirely different experience at Ferrari, who are looking to replace the two-times world champion Fernando Alonso.
Vettel honed his craft at Toro Rosso with Ricciardo, who admitted he was “a little surprised” with the news. Ricciardo will look to build a good understanding with Toro Rosso’s Russian driver Daniil Kvyat, who Horner described as “the best option” to replace Vettel at Red Bull.Vettel honed his craft at Toro Rosso with Ricciardo, who admitted he was “a little surprised” with the news. Ricciardo will look to build a good understanding with Toro Rosso’s Russian driver Daniil Kvyat, who Horner described as “the best option” to replace Vettel at Red Bull.
“The success here has been tremendous and to walk away from that environment into an unknown is a massive thing,” acknowledged Horner.“The success here has been tremendous and to walk away from that environment into an unknown is a massive thing,” acknowledged Horner.
Their parting has been hard but in 2015 Vettel will truly enter the eye of the storm.Their parting has been hard but in 2015 Vettel will truly enter the eye of the storm.