World champion Sebastian Vettel has confirmed he will stay at Red Bull until the end of 2014.
Vettel had been the subject of speculation over the winter around a future move to Ferrari.
The contract extension announced today means he will stay with Red Bull for four seasons.
Vettel joined the team in 2009.
View the list of 2011 F1 drivers and teams.
Image © Red Bull/Getty images
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th March 2011, 12:07
He still hasn’t had a shave, though. He should be contractually obligated to get rid of the facial fungus.
GeeMac (@geemac)
14th March 2011, 12:09
Like McLaren’s drivers are…
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th March 2011, 12:15
Button shaved because his girlfriend made him shave. It could be worse, though – Fernando Alonso shaved because his mother made him do it.
As for Lewis Hamilton, he shaved, too. He then went back with a felt-tip pen and drew a line around his jaw. Probably so he could fit in when he makes a cameo in his girlfriend’s next music video.
Ben N
14th March 2011, 12:15
:D
GeeMac (@geemac)
14th March 2011, 12:23
I always understood that it was McLaren’s policy.
There are no team members with facial hair, and I can’t remember any (apart from Nige’s tasche and Norbert Haug’s late 90’s tasche). DC only sprouted his stubble once he went to Red Bull. Didn’t Mateschitz tell DC “I’m not going to tell you to shave every day” when he joined RBR?
raymondu999 (@raymondu999)
14th March 2011, 12:40
Did McLaren also use to have a short hair policy? I remember their two champion drivers in 2007 had very short hair
TommyB (@tommyb89)
14th March 2011, 13:08
Didn’t Alonso grow a beard at McLaren just to annoy them after they fell out mid-season?
Anyway I think it’s pretty obvious it’s McLaren’s policy.
Alonso 06 – http://bit.ly/hN1f7V
Alonso 07 (McLaren) – http://bit.ly/fD5GYz
Alonso 08 – http://bit.ly/hoewfs
Steve
14th March 2011, 13:35
Lewis doesn’t have facial hair yet. They eliminated the chance of that happening while they were designing his DNA code.
Baracca
14th March 2011, 14:06
News have leaked they were designing some biological warfare agent, but that’s what we got instead
NuWo
14th March 2011, 15:57
Instead? Waddayamean instead?
US_Peter (@us_peter)
14th March 2011, 17:04
He still looks like a kid in that ’07 pick, but more like he does now in ’08. The whole McLaren stint must have aged him a bit/taken its toll.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
14th March 2011, 13:44
Makes you wonder…what would actually happen if they defied McLaren? Get the boot? Doubt it!
GeeMac (@geemac)
14th March 2011, 14:24
They’d probably get the hairdryer treatment from Uncle Ron…a fate worse than death I imagine.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
14th March 2011, 17:03
:-) It certainly always looks that way.
Dane
14th March 2011, 21:39
Jenson wasnt clean shaved when he won @ Melb & Malaysia last year. So im not sure if the Mclaren clean shaved policy exists
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
14th March 2011, 21:45
I think it’s one of the things they’ve relaxed since Whitmarsh took over the F1 operation.
Maksutov
15th March 2011, 3:12
LOL
mef
15th March 2011, 12:43
“I think it’s one of the things they’ve relaxed since Whitmarsh took over the F1 operation.”
In other words – since he turned them into a pale shadow of their former-selves.
Ben N
14th March 2011, 12:15
A nice gesture – but in reality means little, as Ferrari, Fernando, Kimi, Jenson, Williams etc have shown in the past. In this big money world contracts can be bought out with great ease.
Cole (@cole)
14th March 2011, 18:40
Another good thing about Red Bull is They extended Newey’s contract either.
That could have been another decision maker, or even a sin equa non on their contracts (either way).
Alex Bkk
15th March 2011, 5:25
So Newey comes with the package…. sweet for RB.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th March 2011, 22:17
Do you honestly think Red Bull will simply let Vettel go? So long as they keep building title-worthy cars, they’ll be short to keep him as close as tey can.
Kimster
15th March 2011, 18:11
If they can’t build a winning car and he wants out of his contract , they won’t stop him.
RIISE (@riise)
14th March 2011, 12:19
Best decision, if he went to Ferrari to replace Massa it would destroy him.
Let’s see if Red Bull can keep up the cars pace though.
Ben N
14th March 2011, 12:23
I disagree – although Fernando wouldn’t have it. If it was Alonso in the other Red Bull in Turkey – I think we would have seen something catastrophic.
RIISE (@riise)
14th March 2011, 12:35
It would be impossible for Alonso and Vettel to crash because Fernando would already be so far ahead that Vettel wouldn’t get close.
I love being biased!!!
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th March 2011, 12:36
You were watching in Singapore, right?
RIISE (@riise)
14th March 2011, 13:52
Yes I was watching a Red Bull superior to the Ferrari not being able to get past….
Todfod (@todfod)
14th March 2011, 14:53
Gotta agree with Riise.. (I’m biased too btw)
Seb would have been no match for Fernando in an RB6. I actually hope Seb goes to Ferrari while Alonso is still there.. would definitely be an interesting battle.
Mike
14th March 2011, 18:29
Like Lewis was no match for Fernando in the Mc… oh wait…
Mike
14th March 2011, 18:40
You mean like the time Alonso couldn’t pass Petrov?
Last Pope Eye
14th March 2011, 19:16
Agree with RIISE too. Seb is simply no match for Fernando. Stay with RB Seb! With superior car it will look like you are great…
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th March 2011, 22:21
A far cry from Alonso being so far ahead of Vettel that Vettel would not be able to see him, wouldn’t you say?
By the end of 2010, Ferrari and Red Bull were fairly comparable on pace. How else do you explain Ferrari being able to keep up with them in Singapore, Korea and Brazil?
BasCB (@bascb)
14th March 2011, 13:15
LOL, nice one.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
14th March 2011, 13:46
Touche! ;)
Todfod (@todfod)
14th March 2011, 20:14
@Mike.. we are not comparing him to Lewis now are we?
sato113 (@sato113)
14th March 2011, 14:10
let’s hope Kubica will join ferrari now from 2012-2014 at least
Daniel
14th March 2011, 12:28
Well, what about Webber then?
Ben N
14th March 2011, 12:32
What about Webber?
electrolite (@electrolite)
14th March 2011, 12:33
Webber’s already said he’s taking one year at a time and seeing what happens. He’s 33, 34 now? That doesn’t mean however he’s got to quite now he’s in his thirties, I mean he’s a fit guy, he could be with us for another decade yet you never know.
I suppose as a young champion Vettel’s in a different position where he absolutely needs a secure long term position with a top team.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th March 2011, 12:35
Especially since there’s been a lot of talk about a move to Ferrari of late. Vettel has talked it down, but Red Bull were obviously eager to stitch him up for another few years.
BasCB (@bascb)
14th March 2011, 13:17
But interestingly, Autosport had Marko quoted with saying this gets them “everyone key to the succes” tied to 2014!
Only to be expected of him, but it clearly shows where Webber is with the team management.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th March 2011, 12:34
What about him? Red Bull are under no obligation to offer him a contract just because they have signed Vettel up until 2015.
Toro Stevo
14th March 2011, 12:38
His contract is only for this year. Murmurs are though he might want to try for 2012 as well, and Horner was receptive of the idea a few weeks ago as long as he was still quick.
The new Vettel contract might be contingent on them not re-signing Webber though…
US_Peter (@us_peter)
14th March 2011, 17:12
I doubt it. Vettel doesn’t seem the petty type.
raymondu999 (@raymondu999)
14th March 2011, 12:42
As I understand it they also locked in Newey until 2014 no?
Ned Flanders (@ned-flanders)
14th March 2011, 13:08
In that case we might be looking at Vettel as a 5 time champion by the end of 2014… uh oh
BasCB (@bascb)
14th March 2011, 13:18
Who knows, maybe McLaren will bring something extreme working right out of the box for next year.
Or Ferrari/Alonso get the team orders working properly to make it nr. 3 and 4 for him.
RaulZ
15th March 2011, 7:57
Newey’s time is over. The HRT secret weapon is here!
GeeMac (@geemac)
14th March 2011, 13:42
I just shuddered when I read that.
Todfod (@todfod)
14th March 2011, 15:00
Yeah that is a scary thought. Vettel is one of my favourite drivers (after Alonso & Kubica), but the thought of that kid having a dominant car for 5 straight seasons, while Fernando, Robert and Lewis struggle in their respective teams…. is just tragic.
Hari
14th March 2011, 16:15
I’d love to see that anyway!
verstappen
14th March 2011, 13:58
Yup. And some 50 other key people. Source: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89911
Shimks
14th March 2011, 15:41
I wonder what Newey gets paid a year.
Hari
14th March 2011, 16:16
Which is exactly the same thought that has been running through my mind now!
jsw11984 (@jarred-walmsley)
14th March 2011, 19:13
More than you or I will make in a lifetime
Last Pope Eye
14th March 2011, 19:18
$25M a year!
jsw11984 (@jarred-walmsley)
15th March 2011, 5:17
Wouldn’t surprise me
Andy C
14th March 2011, 13:18
Good move for both parties. And a good move to ensure either Ferrari cannot sign him, or they need to pay a lot of money to release him.
I still think he will end up there at some point. :-)
I imagine they will be competitive until at least (you never know with new engine regs) 2013.
If hes able to add a little more racecraft to his game, he’ll be a very formidable opponent for the rest of the guys for the coming years.
Hes certainly got the pace, just needs a little polishing around the edges.
Steve
14th March 2011, 13:40
I think Ferrari would rather grab up the next big talent instead.
GeeMac (@geemac)
14th March 2011, 14:30
Are we so hard on people that the youngest world champion in the history of the sport is no longer considered to be the next big thing (without having raced a single race with the number 1 on his car)! ;)
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
14th March 2011, 13:44
The only way I see Vettel at Ferrari is if Alonso isn’t there.
Fixy (@)
14th March 2011, 14:24
And he is with Ferrari for some time. Massa is too good to leave. Therefore until 2014 Vettel will be away from Ferrari.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
14th March 2011, 21:37
Massa is too subordinate for Ferrari to want him to leave.
That’s what the cynic in me says ;)
Maksutov
15th March 2011, 3:18
that ^
Andrew Martel
15th March 2011, 2:00
Thank god, I don’t want to see Vettel in red. Thats coming from a Vettel, not Ferrari, fan.
David-A (@david-a)
15th March 2011, 3:04
For fear that your favourite driver will be beaten by Alonso? ;)
Robbie (@robbie)
14th March 2011, 15:00
No surprise here…there was a ton of debate last year as to whether or not there was fairness and equal treatment at Red Bull…at more than one point Horner stated that there was fair treatment on the team, but that if MW won the WDC he could see him retiring on top after which the team would be centered around SV.
Hard to argue that there wasn’t fair treatment on the team given that both Red Bull drivers had a WDC shot going into the last race of the season, but it is also hard to imagine that from here on in MW will truly get equal treatment to the reigning WDC who has just been even more engrained in the team to the tune of a multi-year contract extension. That said, if MW feels slighted we’ll sure hear about it from him.
This move makes absolute sense, perhaps is the only move that makes sense for SV…any other move would have been trying to fix what isn’t broken…Red Bull is ‘his’ team right now and for the next little while…he’s a lucky young man and has all the tools in place for more WDC’s…up to him to not squander it…up to the likes of MW and FA and FM to do something about it…
Icthyes
14th March 2011, 15:37
Considering Horner came out and admitted Red Bull will be built around Vettel for years to come (when the season was still on-going, no less), it’s the least he can do. Probably means we won’t see him measured up against any of the other contemporary greats for a long while yet though.
Tim
14th March 2011, 15:41
Dream team. With Newey designing and Vettel driving, Red Bull have everything they need to stay on top.
Hyoko
15th March 2011, 2:08
Great team but less than perfect. Newey’s stuff is fastest but not the most reliable, and reliability almost cost RBR the WCC. Seb is under suspicion of being too hard on the stuff, as he broke it a lot more than Mark (but it maybe was just bad luck).
Seb is undeniably quite fast but not a great overtaker, His strong suit is getting the pole and winning from there, not struggling for position Anyway he’s still very young and will surely improve.
What we don’t need is a decade of overwhelming dominance by a driver/team
box this lap (@sebashuis)
14th March 2011, 16:39
I wonder who is going to be his teammate, Der Hulk vielleicht? strange enough it would really surprise me if someone from the current Torro Rosso line-up is really going to drive for Red Bull.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
14th March 2011, 17:16
Did everyone see German TV’s Vettel Finger video? The foam fingers are pretty funny. I bet there will be a few of those in the crowd at Nurburgring this year: http://youtu.be/DxyfwioAgzg
Cammie
26th November 2012, 11:53
That’s a crackerjack answer to an interesting qsueiotn
Joe
14th March 2011, 18:47
If i was Kubica i would be kicking myself right now.. If my leg worked ..
JamieFranklinF1 (@jamiefranklinf1)
14th March 2011, 18:58
I must say, the Red Bull team, with a fast German driver in Sebastian, does have remnants of the 2000-05 Ferrari days with Michael.
I’m not sure if we’ll see Vettel in a Ferrari, but if Mercedes can consistently become a race winning car, then I wouldn’t mind betting that he would like to drive for them, being a German team.
Ralph Schumacher
14th March 2011, 19:09
Vettel is in trouble this season. With the likes of Alo, WEB, MSC and HAM (LOL) challenging for poles, he might just find himself starting from P2 or worse still, row 2. You know what that means right??? Vettel has to overtake. You know what that means right??? Carnage. Haha
Tommy C (@tommy-c)
14th March 2011, 20:25
It’ll be interesting to see RBR’s qualy strategy. Like you say, Vettel basically needs pole to be able to win, which means he’ll have to start on softs. Will his race then be compromised by say Massa from the fouth row on hard tyres? Regardless, i think vettel will struggle in the midfield for segments of races while pitstops take place.
Oukil
14th March 2011, 21:52
[quote] Vettel is in trouble this season. With the likes of Alo, WEB, MSC and HAM (LOL) challenging for poles, he might just find himself starting from P2 [/quote]
what trouble are you talking about ?
wasnt he competing against these guys last season ?
whats different this year lol
Ralph Schumacher
15th March 2011, 2:41
the difference this year is that the Ferrari is competitive so that means MAS and ALO will be up there as well. Last year all he had to do was bash into WEB.
Burnout
15th March 2011, 9:22
What’s different is also that the McLaren car this year seems to be more of an unknown quantity than the Ferrari, RBR or the Mercedes. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a chance the MP4-26 is so dominant it makes the F2002 look bad. But given the way both Jenson and Lewis have been complaining, I don’t see that happening.
ahmed ameen
28th April 2011, 14:01
i want to be a formula 1 driver
hamifan
14th March 2011, 20:32
yeh you’re right. i cant remember vettel ever overtaking somebody cleanely or well
Steph (@)
14th March 2011, 21:09
Telegraph has just claimed that Horner might in the future perhaps possibly may be interested in Hamilton. I don’t know what’s the better joke the story or generally British newspaper’s coverage of F1 http://tinyurl.com/6d9jm6y
But say this somehow came true (“anything can happen in F1 and it usually does”) how do people think Vettel would do against Lewis?
Pking008
14th March 2011, 23:10
bring it on! good bye and good night Vettel
King Six
14th March 2011, 21:48
I wouldn’t rate Vettel outside of anything but the current spec RBR, he’s a fast driver but a terrible racer. RBR are the only team that can afford to have such persons in their cockpits because of, well Newey and the current regulations.
I think we’ll see RBR dominance (more or less) until the 2013 regulations come in.
verstappen
14th March 2011, 22:15
Rule changes?
That’s Adrian Neweys specialty, so as long as he’s at RB they will dominate, I’m afraid
JamieFranklinF1 (@jamiefranklinf1)
15th March 2011, 0:03
Where did this idea that Vettel is a terrible racer come in? Do the terms “youngest race winner” and “youngest world champion” mean nothing?
Let us not forget that Sebastian is only 23, and has a long way to go yet. In 2008 he won a race in a Toro Rosso, and since then he has shown he is a very capable driver in terms of speed and technical knowledge. Yes, I agree that he has to learn to convert that into race wins more often, but he is far from a terrible racer.
And that’s not a biased opinion, I’m 100% a Jenson Button fan.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
15th March 2011, 0:22
I think this is a reference to ‘racer’ in the ‘good at overtaking’ sense, rather than shortcomings in any other areas of his game.
As I’ve said before I think his biggest weakness – or, at least, the area in which he still has the most to prove – is executing clean passes when the pressure is on.
mef
15th March 2011, 11:22
That is certainly what I mean by ‘racer’.
Don’t get me started on Button.
VXR
15th March 2011, 0:51
Vettel will have to overtake this season, the new tyre rules make it a must if your strategy is to work effectively.
He’s not the best at overtaking, is he?
And I don’t think getting pole position will be nearly as important as it used to be.
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
15th March 2011, 2:10
I think that is a good step forward for both him & the team. He is with the Red Bull teams for 3 season (1 with Torro Rosso) & knows them inside out. & we all know that he is the team’s future, in the coming years what the battle we may see is which driver & team combination wins the WC from here as we have
Alonso- Ferrari
Hamilton- Mclaren
Roseberg- Mercedes
Vettel- Red Bull
Kubica- Renault (after he comes back from his recovery)
mef
15th March 2011, 2:53
Vettel – the least inspiring driver on the grid and the fore-runner in more ways than one, of the Play-station driver’s generation.
Put him in an early 90’s car and he’d cry in terror.
He’s a spoilt child. And a terrible racer.
David-A (@david-a)
15th March 2011, 3:14
Least inspiring driver on the grid? I know he can make mistakes under pressure, but such a comment shows lack of respect for an undeniably lightning quick driver. He’s a top three driver.
mef
15th March 2011, 3:23
Yes – the least inspiring driver. Why should I show him any respect. It’s my opinion.
He’s never won a race from anywhere other than pole. Never had to deal with any adversity in his career, has absolutely no personality and he waves his finger in an incredibly ungainly manner after winning a race. He’s been wrapped in cotton-wool his entire career and has the general demeanor of one of those irritating skate-boarder types.
He’s also a trenchant buffoon.
The fact that he’s also the BBC’s Jake Humphrey’s clear favourite amongst the drivers, lowers my respect for him ever more.
I’ll wait for the backlash.
David-A (@david-a)
15th March 2011, 3:38
He so often wins from pole because he had the speed and talent to take pole in the first place. And this appears to work, since in such a short career he’s already won 10 times and is world champion.
You don’t like the guy. You hate the “Vettel finger”. You find him annoying. I do not agree, but that is all your opinion, which is okay. But what isn’t okay is a lack of appreciation for talent, which Vettel has demonstrated since his first race for BMW Sauber in abundance.
Plus, throwing around terms like “trenchant buffoon” does not help your argument, instead making it look silly.
mef
15th March 2011, 4:58
Is it really ‘not okay’ to not appreciate his talent. More often than not he has won pole as he has clearly had the fastest car on the grid and a team-mate that does not quite have the ability to match him. I am not denying he is a talented driver – clearly one of the faster drivers on the grid.
Indeed – I just find him rather underwhelming and childish.
I’m really sorry if this offends you. You’ve clearly decided to be an erstwhile arbiter for F1 Fanatic.
David-A (@david-a)
15th March 2011, 9:41
No, I’m not being offended, just offering a different point of view. I can see how Seb can come off as childish at times, but I guess he is still only 23 and is likely to calm down and mature.
Robert
15th March 2011, 3:17
and WELTMEISTER!!!
JamieFranklinF1 (@jamiefranklinf1)
15th March 2011, 8:03
Fair enough, I can admit that he’s not always the best at overtaking, as demonstrated in Spa last year! But then again, if you look at Hamilton, a so-called master, he didn’t make that many great overtakes last season either….Monza comes to mind.
Every driver has their shortcomings, but Vettel does have a lot of time to improve on that.
@Mef. Clearly, you hate Hamilton as well then, even more so in fact, by your logic. As he has literally been moulded in McLaren’s image. He was straight into a good car from the off. At least Vettel started in a Toro Rosso. He just proved that he was very good, very quickly.
With young driver programmes, this kind of racing driver will probably pop up a lot more in the future, so you’d better get used to it.
mef
15th March 2011, 10:51
@JamieFranklin F1. You’re perceptive.
Oukil
15th March 2011, 12:01
We dont have an idea how close the competition will be this year ;)
you cant assume that based on testing :roll:
Oukil
15th March 2011, 12:17
eerm..
that was a reply @Ralph Schumacher
Robbie (@robbie)
15th March 2011, 12:29
Imho, Vettel has definitely made some mistakes that have caused some to wonder if he is the full package, or if in fact he can crack under pressure. And some debated if the way the team has coddled him and tried to deflect the blame from him when it clearly was his fault (eg. taking MW and himself out that one race) has been the healthy way to develope this driver. I think time will tell if this WDC he now owns was a fluke or if he can back it up with more, but at a minimum, as a WDC, I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt that he can and will learn from his experiences, and grow, and get better…from here on in he is a WDC and that should change things for him for the better not the worse, unless he proves he truly cannot deal with pressure even with experience, which I doubt will happen.
By comparison, LH did everything possible to lose the WDC one year, and in fact did lose it after leading the WDC chase with a few races to go…then he did everything possible to lose the WDC the next year, and only squeaked it through on a day when FM did everything he needed to do, and Glock did a lap 20 seconds slower than his previous, and LH snatched the trophy out of FM’s hands by a hair.
MS can’t seem to go three races in a row without moving somebody off the track in a questionable fashion
Robbie (@robbie)
15th March 2011, 15:52
…oops…submitted that comment a bit prematurely…to finish that thought…MS is a 7 time WDC and has never seemed to go three races in a row without moving somebody off the track in a questionable fashion…JB won his WDC on the strength of the double diffuser that most thought would be deemed illegal at the start of the season and he got the bulk of his WDC points before the other teams could catch up and nearly lost the WDC in the end as a result…ie. he barely drove his way to that WDC…
Point being, all kinds of WDC winners didn’t do everything perfectly…ie. SV deserves credit as a WDC and support that he may improve and up his game with a WDC under his belt and more experience…and he’ll surely get that with his contract extension at Red Bull…he is I’m sure the envy of many on the grid right now…
JamieFranklinF1 (@jamiefranklinf1)
15th March 2011, 18:30
To be honest, I’d say Jenson was a much more worth champion than Lewis was. Jenson won the 6 out of 7 of the first races, and although had an iffy middle season, his drive in Interlagos proved that he was in fact deserved of the Championship.
Lewis, on the other hand, won less races than Felipe Massa in 2008 and was less deserving than Felipe, because Massa did everything possible to secure the Championship in that final race, whereas Hamilton got lucky at the last corner.
In my mind, no-one really stood out from anyone else in 2010. Both Jenson and Lewis didn’t do the job for McLaren, Webber was too much of a whiner, so for me that left Fernando and Seb as the two who actually deserved the crown.
Alonso drove a stunning second half of the season, but in the last race, his performance was a little lack luster. Vettel may have made mistakes but statistics don’t lie. He won the most amount of races, equal to Alonso, and by the end of the season, he had the most points.
Also, just a little mention. If we’re talking about mistakes, then what about Button’s 2010 challenge? He was the only driver not to get a DNF from his own accord. He retired twice, once from McLaren’s incident in Monaco, and another from a shunt from Vettel in Spa. Without both of those, Jenson would have been a lot higher in the standings by the end of the season…
drezone
17th March 2011, 7:42
Equal treatment in Red Bull Hey!
Vettel getting $16 million next year whilst Webber Getting $8 million.
Maybe I’m biased but I though they were pretty close all year and Webber was leading championship for MOST of the year and Vettel ONCE ( I know, when it counted).
Poor Kubica top 5 driver and should be in ferrari with Alonso who’s still the best driver followed by Hamilton.
Karen Stevenson
29th May 2011, 22:25
Well done Seb- you are cool calm & collective, oh and also great looking
Karen x