'Rattled' Vettel worn out by failed Ferrari "marriage" - Webber
'Rattled' Vettel worn out by failed Ferrari "marriage" - Webber
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.
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."
Before you go...
Hungarian GP chiefs knew "from the word go" they wanted to stage F1 this year
Silverstone considering cardboard cut-out fans for F1 double-header
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Red Bull CONFIRM Newey departure and when he’ll leave
- 20 minutes ago
Newey SHOCK travel arrangements revealed for Miami GP
- 1 hour ago
Netflix honour F1 legend Senna with new series
- 2 hours ago
F1 superstar taking on FIA over PENALTY decision
- 2 hours ago
Lawyers involved as Newey aims to work for Red Bull rival ASAP
- 3 hours ago
Five tragedies F1 must also remember as we mourn Senna
- Today 07:27
Related news
Leclerc pictured with new love as post hits 3 MILLION likes
Newey 'desire' for DIFFERENT role at Ferrari revealed
Ferrari show off new-look drivers following HUGE announcement
Sky Sports F1 pundit dumbfounded by key Ferrari decision
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860