Sebastian Vettel signs new three-year Ferrari contract

By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer at Spa-Francorchamps

Last updated on .From the section Formula 1comments102

Sebastian Vettel
Vettel made his Ferrari debut by finishing third in the 2015 Australian Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel has signed a new contract to stay with Ferrari until the end of 2020.

The four-time champion has been at the team since 2015 and has helped build them up to be title contenders this year after a difficult few seasons.

Vettel is leading the championship by 14 points from Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton with nine races remaining.

The move ends speculation that the 30-year-old could be considering a move to Mercedes in the near future.

A statement from Ferrariexternal-link said the team had "extended its technical and racing agreement" with Vettel "for the 2018, 2019 and 2020 racing seasons of the F1 world championship".

vettel

In Ferrari's time-honoured style, the statement contained no quotes or further information from the driver or the team.

Ferrari announced earlier this week they had retained Vettel's team-mate Kimi Raikkonen for one more season.

Vettel had made it clear his preference was for the Finn to stay.

The in-race incidents and results of Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel in the eleven races of the 2017 season - Hamilton has four wins, Vettel has had three
How the title battle has unfolded so far

Vettel's decision is likely to be followed by confirmation from Mercedes that they will retain Valtteri Bottas for at least another season alongside Hamilton.

The Finn was signed on a one-year deal to replace world champion Nico when after the German retired from F1 after winning the title last year.

Hamilton is contracted to Mercedes until the end of 2018.

Later, after qualifying second to title rival Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes, Vettel said: "I love this team and the people who work for this brand," adding: "In a way, it was a no-brainer to continue. We haven't yet achieved what we wanted to achieve. But things are looking pretty good and obviously we have a long road ahead of us."

Asked whether he had talks with Mercedes over the summer, he said: "I have been around in the paddock for a while so I know people and it's only natural you talk, but it has never been more than chatting," he said. "I have been talking for a while with Ferrari. My intention was to stay."

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff said: "There were zero discussions with Sebastian about a contract."

Michael Schumacher
The seven-time world champion is still recovering following a skiing accident during Christmas 2013, and has not been seen publicly since

Vettel added that he had signed the deal at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix and talked of the inspiration he has following in the footsteps of his childhood hero Michael Schumacher.

"We haven't succeeded. The mission is still ongoing. I want to win in red. We talked about inspiration earlier, about Michael, who was mostly dressed in red, he won most of his races and championships in red.

"I don't want to step in his footsteps. The whole generation of the Ferrari team today was to leave their own footsteps but certainly there is a huge inspiration. Something that for me is now the biggest challenge and dream I have. It's what I want to achieve."

Sebastian Vettel
A young - very young - Sebastian Vettel in Brazil during 2006
Sebastian Vettel
Shocking the whole sport winning his first race for Toro Rosso at Monza in 2008
Sebastian Vettel
Clinching his fourth world title in India in 2013

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

102 comments

  • Comment posted by lewlil, at 11:32 26 Aug 2017

    Why wouldnt he sign for Ferrari, they have a competitive car plus he has a full time whipping boy as his number two who isnt permitted to pass him and stops other cars from getting close.

    Ferarri are a one man team.

  • Comment posted by Stu, at 12:42 26 Aug 2017

    In all honest i am just happy that we have two different teams going for the title this year. much better than the 2 previous seasons

  • Comment posted by henman hill, at 11:36 26 Aug 2017

    That "Race incidents" graph is one of the most unreadable graphics I've ever seen. Yet it seems to be included in every article. Bizarre.

  • Comment posted by Stu, at 13:07 26 Aug 2017

    So many Vettel hating comments, When Senna was driving every team mate he had apart from prost was a number 2 driver. yet nobody moans about that. funny that

  • Comment posted by charlie, at 14:39 26 Aug 2017

    He obviously waited until his lap dog had signed first -by his own admission he even needs him there now to help him get 2nd on the grid. If Kimi was allowed to race Vettel instead of driving shotgun for him there would be rather a different picture in the standings in F1.

  • Comment posted by middle, at 12:26 26 Aug 2017

    Great news this also means hamilton will not drive a ferrari.

  • Comment posted by Tim64, at 11:41 26 Aug 2017

    Never really any other option for him was there?

    After all, he was never going to join Mercedes where he would have to compete against a team-mate.

    His (And Schumy's) records are always going to be somewhat tainted by the fact they had obvious No. 1 status in their teams.

  • Comment posted by Fabby, at 18:32 26 Aug 2017

    I love how a comments section about Vettel signing a contract can descend into an argument about who was better at McLaren out of Button and Hamilton.

    How does that even happen?

  • Comment posted by Them, at 14:38 26 Aug 2017

    61. Posted by kk
    Congratulations Lewis on equalling Schumacher pole record. Wish you set many records
    ___
    He's certainly got the time and talent to set a few, well done LH

  • Comment posted by PGB Addick, at 11:39 26 Aug 2017

    So Kimi is going to stay behind me for another year right?

    Cool, have you got a pen

  • Comment posted by Anti, at 07:37 27 Aug 2017

    I guess they'll have to name this crisis engulfing the BBC F1 section as "Schumacher8gate" in their attempts to rewrite the history of F1.

    This is a serious lapse in so-called journalistic standards, but an editor should know better.

    If Jeremy Clarkson was let go, for whatever his faults were, surely Benson must now face the same fate for "Schumacher8gate"

  • Comment posted by David Windsor, at 17:30 26 Aug 2017

    Unsurprising. Clearly Vettel was going to drive for a team capable of delivering a world title. Right now there's two. One would not allow him unequivocal #1 status and to choose his team mate. Ferrari would.

    71. Hamilton leaving McLaren wasn't a Button issue. He wanted to race for a team that could deliver world titles & concluded rightly that McLaren was going nowhere- good decision it seems

  • Comment posted by U16551465, at 14:49 26 Aug 2017

    Well done Lewis Hamilton. Fantastic drive.No mean feat equalling Schumacher. Great lap by Seb too. Exciting few races ahead. Ferrari have good race pace. Hamilton on a different level when his heads in the game.

  • Comment posted by Big AL, at 13:03 26 Aug 2017

    In order that we both understand each other, you are saying when a faster team mate "shepherds" home a faulty, slower car to win a GP "this was not team orders?"

    Just clarifying!

  • Comment posted by Matt, at 11:49 26 Aug 2017

    The BBC has made further tweaks to the most useless graph ever, it still tells us nothing of note!

  • Comment posted by iknoweverythinglol, at 14:38 26 Aug 2017

    Team orders to a new level

  • Comment posted by RM, at 13:57 26 Aug 2017

    In F1 motor racing team orders mean a racing team orders one team member to pull aside and let a team mate overtake the car in front safely and quickly and without a fight for position. Team orders spoil the race.
    Expecting team mates not to crash in to each other and not takeing out team mates is working and winning as a team but it is not called team orders.

  • Comment posted by Stu, at 13:15 26 Aug 2017

    44. PranR17

    Whatever we say they wont change their mind, Lets just let them live in their fantasy world. some of the comments are so far fetched its hilarious :)

  • Comment posted by Stu, at 12:50 26 Aug 2017

    34. SamB

    Its something for the haters to cling onto and repeat on a daily basis.
    I think people forget that F1 is a team sport and in order to win you must have 2 drivers that can work well together.

  • Comment posted by nick_tt, at 12:19 26 Aug 2017

    @22 it's news because it's an extension of a contract, same as footballers!!

    If Hamilton had extended his, the BBC would've had 20 articles on it plus a deep and meaningful form his love child benson

Top Stories