Sebastian Vettel To Officially Quit Ferrari F1 Team After 2020

Leaving no room for speculation, Ferrari issued a press release today confirming the rumours of Sebastian Vettel leaving the fabled F1 team at the end of the 2020 season.

After the news of an imminent split was reported by German media who were privy to details of contract negotiations between Ferrari and Vettel, an official statement was expected today. Sure enough, the biggest news of the F1 season - after the coronavirus pandemic related delays and cancellations - was made official.

Mattia Binotto, Ferrari’s team principal and sporting director, said that the decision was a joint one between the team and Vettel. He cited no specific reason for the two parties to not agree to a contract extension beyond 2020. 

Vettel stated that there was ‘no longer a common desire to stay together beyond the end of this season.’ He stated that financial matters did not play a part in his decision. 

A part of Vettel’s statement hinted that he may not even be in F1 after the 2020 season as he stated, ‘what’s been happening in these past few months has led many of us to reflect on what are our real priorities in life.’ 

He said he would, ‘take the time I need to reflect on what really matters when it comes to my future.’ 

The focus now shifts to which driver would take his seat at Ferrari to partner Charles Leclerc, who is contracted to stay with the Italian team until the end of the 2024 F1 season.

Daniel Ricciardo and Carlos Sainz Jr. are believed to be the most likely candidates, although the different permutations involving those two are enough to fuel endless chatter.

Ricciardo to Ferrari, Sainz to take Ricciardo’s vacated seat at Renault or a swap between Ferrari and McLaren involving Vettel and Sainz...at this point in time it is all guesswork. 

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The only certainty is that a driver-team combination that promised so much, especially in 2017 and 2018, is now over after failing to deliver Scuderia Ferrari the F1 title it covets so much.