Why Vettel is starting his final Ferrari chapter

Vettel at Ferrari

Starts: 101

Wins: 14

Poles: 12

Fastest laps: 14

Points: 1367

When four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel’s move to Ferrari was announced back in November 2014, both were in need of a boost. Vettel had suffered a disappointing season alongside Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull, and the Ferrari-Fernando Alonso relationship had come to an end with no world titles.

For Vettel, the move to Maranello was the fulfilment of a long-held dream to follow in the footsteps of his hero, Michael Schumacher. Like Schumacher, Vettel wanted to build a team around him and restore Ferrari to its former greatness.

But less than six years later, Vettel is gearing up for one final, shortened season with Ferrari before leaving the team, after his exit was confirmed at the beginning of May.

As the world was put on hold amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Vettel was given time to think carefully about his future. With his contract running out at the end of this year and Ferrari clearly rallying around his younger team-mate, Charles Leclerc, Vettel saw that the writing was on the wall. Word soon emerged that both he and Ferrari had decided to call off contract talks by mutual agreement,