Sebastian Vettel is set to leave Ferrari at the end of the year after contract negotiations had broken down between the two parties.
Multiple sources, including Motorsport.com, BBC, Bild, and Auto Motor und Sport have reported that Vettel will leave the team, with an official announcement expected shortly.
Vettel’s three-year contract is to expire at the conclusion of 2020 and negotiations had been ongoing for months.
Speculation regarding negotiations had been prevalent for weeks, with earlier reports suggesting the German was unhappy with the terms of his new contract.
Italian publication, Gazzetta dello Sport, had reported that Ferrari had offered Vettel a one-year contract for 2021 with a reduced salary. Team-mate Charles Leclerc meanwhile, had been signed on for a further five years, until the end of 2024.
It is unknown where Vettel will go after his departure from Maranello. Rumours abound Renault have submitted a concrete offer, as Daniel Ricciardo’s future with the French outfit looks increasingly uncertain.
McLaren is also a possibility, as rumours suggest Carlos Sainz could replace the German at Ferrari. Sainz’s contract also expires at the end of 2020 and is said to be a popular figure within the Ferrari camp.
A move back to Red Bull Racing has been ruled out by Helmut Marko, who stated the Austrian team cannot or will not pay two ‘star drivers’ “for very simple monetary reasons”.
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