Sebastian Vettel presses pause on Ferrari extension
Scuderia Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel has put his contract talks with the team on hold, the four-time world champion revealed Friday.
That means he's headed into the final year of his contract with the team without an extension in place. Vettel's contract is currently set to expire at the conclusion of the 2017 campaign. "We are all fairly busy, focusing on the last four races and focusing in particular on next year," Vettel said to assembled media at the United States Grand Prix Friday when he was asked if anything was set to change.
His arrival at Ferrari came in 2015, fresh off his stint with Red Bull, where he captured four straight world championships. Vettel signed a three-year deal with the Maranello-based outfit. A disappointing streak for the team has lasted much longer than the current campaign, the Scuderia team are now without a win in 12 months. As a result, the future of the No. 1 driver has been cast into extreme doubt — after an underwhelming performance at the Japanese Grand Prix, team principal Maurizio Arrivabene said Vettel would need to 'earn' a drive past 2017.
Another disappointing campaign in 2016 for the four-time world champion has cast doubt onto his status with the Scuderia Ferrari team.
"Sebastian today has a contract with us, we have work to do this year, and also the next. During the season we will see," Arrivabene said in Japan. "Everybody has an objective. I have, the team has, Sebastian has, everybody has. So it's right everybody has to earn their position and salary."
This all despite the fact a contract extension had reportedly been agreed to just earlier this year. The German driver say he and the team brass have put things on hold to adjust to the 2017 rules changes to 'refresh.'
"I don't think it's that important to look into details such as my contract," he said. "It's fine for next year. There are a lot of things happening back in the factory, I know we are very busy and that's where l want the focus to be."
Collectively, this means each of the Ferrari drivers on the grid will be entering next season with less than a year remaining on their current deals — for the second-consecutive year, Kimi Raikkonen signed a 12-month extension. The attitude in the Ferrari paddock has led one pundit to ponder whether the 29-year-old is preparing for his exit from Formula One.
"I'm beginning to think Sebastian Vettel won't be in Formula 1 for the long haul," said Sky F1 analyst Martin Brundle in reaction to the words from Arrivabene. "He came so young, he broke so many records. I just watch him at work and he's lost his mojo.
"That was a choreographed interview, for a purpose, and the words were extremely strong there. I imagine Vettel will react to that very badly. I think what they are trying to tell him is, you drive the car and we'll sort the team out."
