Sebastian Vettel and Mattia Binotto opened up on the contractual situation with the German and Ferrari, going forward in F1.
With Charles Leclerc having signed a long-term contract with Ferrari to secure his F1 future, focus has shifted on Vettel, who deal to race with the Italian team comes to an end after 2020. It is a big decision for the German whether to continue or not.
Ever since winning the four back-to-back F1 titles, Vettel has had a tough time, especially at Ferrari, who are still fighting to break into Mercedes. With regulations changing in 2021, both Vettel and Ferrari have a chance to come back if they don’t manage it in 2020.
The discussions about his future is ongoing as both Vettel and Binotto shed some light on it during the second F1 pre-season test Barcelona. FormulaRapida.bet sums it up all what both said to the media regarding his future and the sport, including us:
Vettel –
Love for F1 and the fire within:
Vettel: “Maybe the honest answer is that this couch right now is not the favorite place I’d like to be, I’d rather be down with the engineers and talk about stuff related to the car. But yeah, where am I? I love driving. I think the cars feel ultra fast.
“The fastest cars they ever have been and the only downside they have is still that I would say they’re still a bit too heavy in the low speed stuff, but for sure the amount of downforce we have if I also compared to other cars I’ve driven so far they are the fastest car so it’s very exciting to be part of that.
“Obviously, I don’t know how the cars feel next year and what are the current predictions and so on. But yeah, as it is drivers always exciting to go fast and these cars are very, very exciting. In terms of fire, I would say so. I mean, obviously, I’ve been around for a while but I still love what I do. I love driving.
“I think I got really excited when I got in the car last week. And yeah, very quickly got back into into a rhythm and that feels great. You know the satisfaction you get from driving the cars. I was still say the same and obviously we’re not just here to get a great feeling driving around, I think I’m here to win.
“And in that regard, we had, you know, the recent years, some of them were good, better than others, but none of them have been to our liking at the very end. I joined Ferrari to win the championship. We haven’t done so so far. It’s been a couple of years now. But as I said, the hunger and the will, the determination is still there, that tells determination, the group is there inside the team. So we are here to fight.”
Contract extension of Leclerc and his decision then:
Vettel: “I was quite happy for him. I don’t see why it should have been painful. Maybe [it will influence my contract] I mean, obviously, I know who’s racing at Ferrari in the future, but not really. I mean, so far, I think right from the start, I have a good relationship with Charles and I think we get along. So obviously he’s in a very different stage in his career than I am. So I’m aware of that. But I don’t think ultimately, it matters too much.”
Only Ferrari as option and if contract is taking much of the mind:
Vettel: “I think it depends on what I believe in. So I think it’s vice versa when it comes to the first option, but as I said right now, the highest priority is the car down in the garage and making sure that we squeeze everything out and learn everything we can in the remaining two and a half days. So right now is not that important.
“But there will be a time where it will be important to get through these things and sort out the future. But I would appreciate it. if that was the last question regarding that. Hopefully we are the next ones to make the first step. As for the contract, my mind is not more than last time three years ago.
“Obviously right now we are very busy with other stuff and therefore right now I would say zero. Time will tell but as I said, I think it doesn’t change anything right now I think we know what we what we want to achieve where we want to go and where we are now. So the answer is still zero.”
Binotto –
Vettel’s future:
Binotto: “I think I already mentioned it. Seb is our first option, I think as I always mentioned, that’s a great lineup, probably the best we have in F1, of which I’m very happy and very proud to have as Ferrari. So we are really starting an early discussion with Seb.
“We all are aware The contract is finishing but it will come very soon to close the discussion and see what’s what’s the best interest of both of us, but I think what’s more a matter is the project which we are sharing, even our longer term view so we will come very soon I am sure to an agreement.”
Sorting the contract eventually:
Binotto: “We will decide over dinner… [with a] red glass! But I think honestly, I know Seb since many years, not in the position of team principal but as a technician before. I think everybody knows Seb. From my side, in the last year has been important because we start knowing each other’s more and more and better and better.
“And I think really the relationship is good, I think it will be a very natural discussion. It’s not a matter that we need to have an appointment on our diary so there will come a time where we start discussing closely and what is really his objectives, which I think we know, and what are our objectives for the future.”
Here’s what Mattia Binotto said regarding Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc
Here’s what Mattia Binotto said about the SF1000 performance
The story was co-written by Duncan Leahy