'Rattled' Vettel worn out by failed Ferrari "marriage" - Webber

Sebastian Vettel

'Rattled' Vettel worn out by failed Ferrari "marriage" - Webber

Australian would not be surprised if Vettel quit F1 completely

Ian Parkes

Sunday 7 June 2020 17:38

Sebastian Vettel has been worn out by his "marriage" with Ferrari and is the reason why he is leaving the Formula 1 team at the end of this year, according to former team-mate Mark Webber.

Webber and Vettel spent five seasons together at Red Bull, with their relationship ultimately fracturing towards the end, leading to the Australian quitting F1 at the end of 2013.

Seven years later, Vettel may be on the brink of following Webber out of the sport as he and Ferrari have opted to part ways at the end of this season, ending what will be a six-year association.

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Webber was typically candid in his view that Vettel's relationship with Ferrari had had a detrimental effect on the German driver.

"As we all know in Formula 1 there are always two cars in a team," said Webber, speaking on the 'At The Controls' podcast.

"Yes, Sebastian has sort of done his best with what he could to set the team up and have it in a position to win a world championship in the last few years - hasn’t happened.

"So I think his confidence has been very much rattled with the lack of penetration that he was able to have with the Italian culture. That’s a big thing.

"There’s a sort of Germanic way of going about things, borderline robotic as we know they are. The English, Aussies, Kiwis, South Africans are somewhere in the middle and then you’ve got the Latinos at the other end.

"So that marriage I just think really wore him out. You can see he doesn’t look his age right now, I’ve told him that several times.

"But he’s had a good run at it, a hard run at it, but I think he’s just worn down. Maybe he knows more about the car than we do. But anyway, he might have a year off, who knows?

"I think he doesn’t feel he can get out of bed with a spring in his step driving for a red car any more and obviously as an athlete that’s a problem."

Assessing the work required to continue competing at the highest level, Webber added: "With an athlete, it's up to them, and longevity is a key component.

"And you have to work out Monday to Friday how to keep the batteries topped up, too, and Maranello certainly hasn't helped Vettel's batteries."

Vettel has been linked with Mercedes, yet while motorsport boss Toto Wolff has not ruled out the 32-year-old from a seat alongside Lewis Hamilton in 2021, few believe such a move will happen.

That leaves Renault as Vettel's only viable F1 option, otherwise, there is the prospect he takes a sabbatical or calls it quits altogether.

"I don’t know where he can go, I really don’t. I do not see Seb at midfield," remarked Webber.

"Most of his career he’s always been sniffing around podiums, apart from the first year at Toro Rosso, and he still won a race in that first year.

"I don’t see him at Renault at all. I see him letting it flush out off the back of ’21 and then maybe [he] has a bit of a look at coming back.

"His age is super young to stop. He did start early, the trophy cabinet’s handy, obviously. I wouldn’t be surprised if he stops, but I really hope he doesn’t."

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