Sebastian Vettel leaves Ferrari at end of season, what's next for Vettel?

It was confirmed on Tuesday (12/5/20), Sebastian Vettel will leave Ferrari at the end of the season, after contract talks between the two broke down with no agreement.



Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto said the decision was mutual and was "not easy to reach, given Sebastian's worth as a driver and as a person".

He added: "The time had come to go our separate ways in order to reach our respective objectives."

Vettel said there was "no longer a common desire" to work together.

Vettel has claimed fourteen wins from his five year stay at Ferarri.

Carlos Sainz, Jr. is set to replace Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari for 2021.



Overall, not the biggest surprise due to Vettel possibly wanted a long-term deal still be the number one driver maybe, Ferrari wanted a short-term deal (a season) and have Vettel as a number two driver behind Charles Leclerc going into 2021.

I know the season hasn't stated is it last we have seen Vettel in a Ferrari, Ferrari could fire Vettel early I doubt it. It feels the divorce has already happen what I read about, so why have Vettel stay there for another eighteen Grand Prixs.

So what's next for Vettel? unless Lewis Hamilton retires from F1 at the end of the season, I doubt he will be moving to Mercedes, unless Hamilton wanted the challenge as a new team-mate for 2021. A return to Red Bull will not happen due to Max Verstappen is the number one driver there and that's count out Scuderia AlphaTauri too. McLaren could be an option (with Mercedes returning back as an engine supplier), rumours has it Daniel Ricciardo is set to sign for the team next season that leaves this option is off the cards.



Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Williams and Haas are off the table too as there not big enough and a big fall of grace for Vettel to join them too. The only option could be Renault, Vettel won all his drivers' titles with Renault power; although could Renault pull out from the sport at the end of the season, that might happen.



Another option could take a year off in 2021 and return to Formula 1 in 2022 as Vettel is currently 32 and he will be 34 in 2022 still young enough to win championships. Drivers have won championships after taking time away from Formula 1 the likes of Niki Lauda (1984 with McLaren after two seasons off) and Alain Prost (1993 with Williams after a season off) to name a few.

Whatever the outcome for 2021, interesting times ahead for Sebastian Vettel and for Formula 1.