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Marko: Vettel should leave Ferrari for another team

Published on 19 Jul 2019 11:14
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By: Fergal Walsh

Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko has suggested that Sebastian Vettel should leave Ferrari for a new team amid a difficult 2019 season.

While Ferrari has failed to produce a car capable of challenging Mercedes for the world championship, Vettel has found himself at the end of several on-track mishaps.

MORE: Vettel: 2021 regulations important in decision to stay or depart F1 | Vettel insists current struggles are 'very different' to 2014

The errors have continued over from 2018, when Vettel was involved in several situations that saw him spin out or crash in the second half of the season.

Vettel's latest mistake came at the British Grand Prix last weekend when he crashed into the rear of Max Verstappen as they battled for the final spot on the podium.

"At Red Bull Racing he hardly made any mistakes," Verstappen said. "You don't forget how to drive. Why do these things keep happening to him more and more at Ferrari?"

Marko suggested that the Vettel is no longer himself at Ferrari and that the errors are happening in his subconscious.

"You make mistakes when you are no longer yourself. It happens in your subconscious. Sebastian should be in a different environment. In other words: with another team. However, I don't see any possibility of that for 2020," he told Auto Bild.

Vettel needs "unconditional support" from team

Rumours have been swirling in recent months about the future of Vettel in F1, however the German remains adamant that he will be racing in the series next year, as he has another year on his contract with Ferrari.

"Sebastian is a very intelligent, sensitive and warm man," said Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatly. "You can see that in how loving he is towards his wife and children, or in the fantastic speech he gave in honour of Charlie Whiting at Silverstone.

"He is not as hard a man as Michael Schumacher or Fernando Alonso, who could always perform. Sebastian is a driver who needs to feel unconditional support. He had that at Red Bull and he probably doesn't have it at Ferrari."

Ram Samartha

Posts: 1,172

Coming out publicly with this Marko is playing mind games with Vettel to give his driver the mental edge in the standings. But there is probably some truth in what he says. When Vettel felt supported at Red Bull he did well when Danny Ric came in his performance suffered. Same thing at Ferrari, d... [Read more]

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Jul 19 2019 - 23:01

F1 News Sebastian Vettel Helmut Marko Ferrari Red Bull Racing

Replies (6)

f1fan0101

Posts: 1,804
but who though.. red bull???
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- Jul 19 2019 - 12:08
f1dave

Posts: 782
Hire him or stop talking.
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- Jul 19 2019 - 15:35
mcbhargav

Posts: 1,332
Usual Redbull B.S. But, Ferrari should improve their environment less stressful for a driver. Vettel doesn't seem like a guy who could cope up with it. But, Leclerc on the other hand is acing it.
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- Jul 19 2019 - 17:36
Pistonhead

Posts: 556
What a load of tosh. For someone paid extremely handsomely I find it a slur on Vettel's character and standing to suggest he's soft. If this is true, then he should get out fo the sport, not move teams - you don't run away from problems you face them head-on. I would prefer Marko to keep quiet about his thoughts on driver's positions - it's like a football manager talking about a slyer under contract elsewhere - its just not professional.
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- Jul 19 2019 - 18:14
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
I could actually see Vettel returning to Red Bull, provided Honda progresses enough. I've said before that I still think Ferrari trust Vettel, but clearly Vettel doesn't trust them. The honey moon period is long gone, and Red Bull have been able to do wonder just with skill and strategy and a really bloody good team in general. I'm dubious over whether Max would allow Vettel into the team, but I think Marko wouldn't mind having him back. He is still a really good, competitive driver, and he'd be a much safer card than any rookie could be.
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- Jul 19 2019 - 18:34
Ram Samartha

Posts: 1,172
Coming out publicly with this Marko is playing mind games with Vettel to give his driver the mental edge in the standings. But there is probably some truth in what he says. When Vettel felt supported at Red Bull he did well when Danny Ric came in his performance suffered. Same thing at Ferrari, did pretty well with Kimi and then in comes LeClerc and boom, not performing again. I don't see him going anywhere else either. He's already complaining about the rules so he has already established a reason to retire, lame as it is.
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- Jul 19 2019 - 23:01