Ferrari's German racer Sebastian Vettel answers questions at a media briefing during the F1 Winter Testing in Montmelo, Spain, February 27, 2020. /VCG
Ferrari's 32-year-old racer Sebastian Vettel will leave the team beyond the end of this season as they two no longer share "a common desire to stay together," confirmed both the Italian team and German driver on Tuesday.
"The writing has been on the wall for Sebastian Vettel since September 2018 when Ferrari announced Charles Leclerc as his F1 teammate," according to Reuters' senior F1 writer Alan Baldwin.
With a reported annual salary of 40 million U.S. dollars, Vettel joined Ferrari from Red Bull in 2015 as the replacement for Spaniard Fernando Alonso.
"He was seen by the team as the man who could achieve what Fernando Alonso failed to do – bring the World Championship back to Maranello," F1's senior writer Lawrence Barretto wrote on Formula 1.com
"But after failing to hit the target in the first four years, Vettel was then usurped by the future in the form of Charles Leclerc, who ruthlessly wrestled control of the team and relegated the German to bridesmaid," Barretto added.
Sebastian Vettel wins the F1 Canadian Grand Prix with Red Bull Racing Team, June 9, 2013. /VCG
Vettel claimed 38 Grand Prix victories with Red Bull from 2009 to 2014 but only 14 wins with Ferrari since 2015.
His most legendary performances were in 2013 with 13 victories out of 19 races, followed by 11 wins in 2011.
Vettel was the No. 1 racer in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, during his days with Red Bull. However, he hasn't claimed top status since he joined Ferrari in 2015.
Sebastian Vettel's driver standings from 2015 till now
2015: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
2016: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing Tag Heuer), Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
2017: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
2018: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
2019: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes), Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing Honda), Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel (R) wins the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix and his teammate Charles Leclerc (L) finishes second during the F1 event in Singapore, September 22, 2019. /VCG
Sebastian Vettel's 14 Grand Prix victories with Ferrari between 2015 and 2020
3 wins in 2015
Malaysia Grand Prix, March 29, 2015
Hungary Grand Prix, July 26, 2015
Singapore Grand Prix, September 20, 2015
None in 2016
5 wins in 2017
Australia Grand Prix, March 26, 2017
Bahrain Grand Prix, April 16, 2017
Monaco Grand Prix, May 28, 2017
Hungary Grand Prix, July 30, 2017
Brazil Grand Prix, November 12, 2017
5 wins in 2018
Australia Grand Prix, March 25, 2018
Bahrain Grand Prix, April 8, 2018
Canada Grand Prix, June 10, 2018
British Grand Prix, July 8, 2018
Belgium Grand Prix, August 26, 2018
1 victory in 2019
Singapore Grand Prix, September 22, 2019
Carlos Sainz of Spain at a photo shoot for McLaren ahead of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia, March 12, 2020. /VCG
Who could be Ferrari's next driver?
McLaren's Spaniard Carlos Sainz, 25, is likely to be the next driver for Ferrari.
Spanish reports and Red Bull's Max Verstappen believe Sainz could replace Vettel next season.
Spanish newspaper Marca reported there was initial contact between Ferrari and Sainz last year which increased over recent weeks, adding that a two-year deal for Sainz was in talks.
"I think it's not going to be the Italian-sounding name," Verstappen said during an Instagram Q&A. "Let's see. At the end of the day, it's just a guess. We'll have to wait and see."
Read more:
Ferrari extend Leclerc's contract until 2024
Vettel to leave Ferrari, Roberts joins Williams as managing director