Vettel : “I Knew…it’s going to be a different sort of love story”

Sebastian Vettel said , “he knew before hand that this season is going to be tough and it will be a different sort of love story” after Ferrari opted not to renew his contract. But The German wants to end his time with Ferrari in Formula 1 with “dignity”.

Four-time F1 world champion Vettel has just six races left with Ferrari before leaving the team to join Racing Point for the 2021 season when the team rebrands as Aston Martin. Ferrari opted against renewing German’s contract beyond the end of the year.

Ferrari’s SF1000 is one of the Draggiest car on the track, Team Principal Mattia Binotto admitted that the car’s design philosophy went in total wrong direction after Barcelona pre-season testing .Due to FIA Engine clamping in the offseason , they are down on engine power too, the cumulative effect making car hard to drive.

Vettel struggled more with the car compared to Charles Leclerc for some reasons, The German sits 13th in the drivers’ standings with 17 points,compared to Charles Leclerc’s 8th position & 63 total points.

Vettel praised Leclerc for “doing a very good job” and that he “regularly seems to squeeze the maximum out of the car”, and acknowledged his increased struggles through 2020.

“From my side, I think it’s a very different year, very different circumstances going in,” Vettel said. [I’m] probably not having the smoothest year doing [with] what I can do, and not the easiest situation. But I’m willing to give everything that I can to try and improve, and towards the end of the year, get back to where I know I can be.”

When Asked about impact of his exit from the team on his performance, Vettel hinted the fact his departure from Ferrari had already been confirmed prior to the start of the season in July has made life more difficult.

“Obviously this year’s car is not easy to drive for both of us,” Vettel said.

“I’m sitting in all of the meetings that Charles is participating in as well, and we share the opinion. For sure it’s not always easy. But I think it’s quite clear going into the season, knowing you’re going to part ways, it’s going to be a different sort of love story. Nevertheless, I respect all of the work that has been going in on my side, and in the last years and therefore I’m willing to give my maximum back.

“It’s not been the easiest of years with where we are. The race as well, here and there, didn’t really go our way. Sometimes it’s like this, and myself, I have to push through and pull through, and look forward to the new tracks we have on one hand and the races that are coming up to try and put things together a little bit more.”

Vettel Wants to End his Ferrari tenure with dignity..

Vettel said it had been an “enormous privilege” driving for Ferrari, and that while he was excited for his next step with Aston Martin, he wanted to end his time at Maranello with dignity.

“Like all things, things come to an end, so I’m very much looking forward to a new chapter that starts next year. But before that one starts, as I said, I’ll try to close the chapter here with dignity and try to get myself back together so I can deliver the sort of performances that I know that I can, overcoming those obstacles, then be ready for the new chapter.”

“I don’t think I’m that guy that bubbles up at the end and it all becomes super emotional. I think I’m realistic to know that things are coming to an end. As I said, the situation in the team now is different to maybe a year ago or two years ago, where we are, where we’re headed.”