Sebastian Vettel says that he is sorry that in six years with Ferrari he failed to win the title, but that this failure will not bother him for the rest of his life and that he believes that he left the team as a better driver than he was.
After four consecutive championship titles with Red Bull and a defeat by Ricciardo in 2014 in the same team, Vettel arrived at Ferrari in 2015 and achieved his first victory in the second race in Malaysia, and although in 2017 and 2018 he was fighting for the title, Hamilton and Mercedes were too strong and won both titles in those seasons.
With the arrival of Leclerc in Ferrari in 2019, Vettel lost the status of their lead driver thanks to the great performances of the young Monegasque and after Ferrari gave Leclerc a new five-year contract, they did not decide to extend the cooperation with Vettel and brought Sainz for 2021.
Vettel failed to win the title with Ferrari in six years, just like Alonso in the five-year period from 2010 to the end of 2014, and Raikkonen remained Ferrari’s last F1 world champion from 2007.
“The title was a big deal so of course something was missing,” Vettel commented of his period at Ferrari.
“But I’m pretty sure it won’t frustrate me for the rest of my life.”
“I’ve learned a lot in the last six years. And I believe it will help me for the rest of my F1 career and beyond Formula 1.”
“I’m definitely convinced I’m richer than I was before coming to Ferrari.”
Vettel says he was not trying to make team boss Binotto change his mind after the Italian told him they were no longer counting on him.
“I didn’t try to fight or change his mind, not at all.”
The German added that he has no plans to drive in Formula 1 in his forties like Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso.
“I have a few more years, but not ten or so,” said Vettel, who will drive for Aston Martin this year.
