Shortly after Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari exit, his successor has already been announced. It will be difficult for the four-time world champion to find a team.
Sebastian Vettel threatens the Formula 1 dead end. After the end of the four-time world champion at Ferrari, the McLaren racing team, which was traded as a candidate, signed Vettel’s former teammate Daniel Ricciardo from 2021. The Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who in turn leaves McLaren, receives the vacant position of the German at the Scuderia for just a few days.
Since the announcement of the separation between Vettel and Ferrari, it has been speculated that Vettel could also switch to the series champion Mercedes – provided the Heppenheimer wants to continue his career at all and a silver arrow position would be free. The contracts of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas end with the permanent world champion at the end of this year. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff had already started a tender flirt with Vettel.
Ferrari only announced the separation from Vettel at the end of the year on Tuesday and then immediately presented its successor in Sainz on Thursday. The son of rally legend Carlos Sainz senior, who has been driving in Formula 1 since 2015, has not yet been able to win a race, but is considered an aspiring star. “I am very excited about the future with the team,” said Sainz, who is still under contract with McLaren this season.
Ferrari team boss raves about Sainz
“Carlos has proven to be very talented and has shown that he has the technical skills and the right qualities,” said Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto. Sainz would “ideally suit our family,” said the Italian. The team believed that the driver duo of Sainz and Charles Leclerc “would be the best possible combination to achieve the goals we set ourselves”.
After years of Mercedes dominance, Ferrari is hoping for a world title again. Due to the corona virus pandemic, no Grand Prix has been contested this year, the first ten races have been canceled or postponed. The start in Austria is planned for July 5, at best there should be 15 to 18 seasonal runs. The teams are now using the time to prepare for the future.
Vettel’s former team-mate Ricciardo signed a contract with McLaren for several years, but the team did not give any further details. The former world champion team now contests the racing year 2021 with Ricciardo and the Englishman Lando Norris. No place for Vettel.
