Report: Ferrari offers Vettel three-year contract
Jul.17 - Ferrari wants Sebastian Vettel to sign a new three-year contract.
With the German's current deal up at the end of the season, he has been linked with a potential move to Mercedes -- perhaps for 2019, once Lewis Hamilton's current contract has expired.
Vettel recently invited Mercedes chief Toto Wolff to his 30th birthday party in Switzerland, with Red Bull chief Christian Horner saying: "I would think he's got Toto in his ear saying 'Extend for a year (at Ferrari)'.
"And then he's probably got Ferrari saying 'It's three years or nothing'," Horner added.
Indeed, France's Auto Hebdo now reports that Vettel has been offered a new three-year Ferrari contract, valued at a total of EUR 120 million.
The report said Vettel would insist that, if he does stay at Ferrari, his friend and current teammate Kimi Raikkonen is also retained.
Auto Hebdo said Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne has agreed to a EUR 5 million extension for the Finn, although Raikkonen is yet to accept or reject it.
"I think the situation in the drivers market depends on Sebastian Vettel," said Horner. "But what is clear is that there will be no change at Red Bull Racing."
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I would love to see Vettel stay with Ferrari but, if he is half as smart as I think he is he will insist on a performance clause in the K ( Ferrari's performance that is ) AND that Ferrari demonstrate a financial commitment equal to that which Mercedes has displayed . That is to say that since mercedes is willing to operate at a financial loss in order to win on the track Ferrari must be willing to do the same. A new bench mark has been set and Ferrari must match it if they want the man who is arguably the best driver in F1.
If Ferrari can't show it will match Mercedes' 1,500 person Brackley effort then Vettel showed go to Mercedes.
I want Vettel at Ferrari because he is a great driver but, if I were him I would go where I have the best or at least an equal chance to win and right now Mercedes has committed more people and more money than has Ferrari and that is why the Mercedes cars have more pace and better tire wear than does Ferrari ( or anyone else ).
Since F1 went to the "hybrid era" Mercedes can not be beaten and as they say ,"if you can't beat 'em ,join 'em."
So I say to Mr. Vettel"don't let anyone think that Hamilton or anyone else is better than you just because they are driving a faster car .
To Ferrari's heads I say," this is more than business ,its honor so don't disgrace the name of Ferrari by losing to a team that simply out spent you -Enzo is watching ."
You are right my friend
I'm a Ferrari fan, but Sebastian would be wiser to sign with Mercedes if he wants to win more championships. Like many other great drivers before him he will stay four-five years with Ferrari just to realize down the road that he has wasted his time.
If I were Ferrari, I honestly wouldn't bother... 120 Mil Euros?
Believe me, Vettel is using the Schuderia to get WDC title number five, without concerning if the Schuderia win the constructors title.
This is Ferrari's problem, they must have spent so much money on drivers recently... Alonso, Raikkonen, now Vettel... but not a single constructors championship. I wonder if they spent so much money buying Raikkonen for 2014, that they had no money left for the car!
Red Bull showed that by promoting Daniel Ricciardo in 2014, he could match the pace of Vettel. If I were Ferrari, I'd promote Leclerc, that'll cost 'em nothing, and keep Raikkonen for a year. A Sabattical for Sebastian before his move to Merc in 2019 won't kill him. In 2019, let RAI retire, and line up Perez/Grosjean/Sainz for the second Ferrari seat. They'll come cheap, and then invest in making the best car and engine on the grid. Especially with these 'new rules' for 2021, teams will need all the money they can get.
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