Sebastian Vettel, the four-time Formula 1 world champion, recently reflected on his departure from Ferrari, which occurred four years ago after his final race with the legendary team. Prior to the season affected by the pandemic in 2020, it was announced that Vettel’s contract would not be renewed. Mattia Binotto, Ferrari’s then-team principal, stated that there was no particular reason for the decision and characterised the split as amicable.
The 2020 season proved to be challenging for Ferrari, culminating in a disappointing sixth-place finish in the constructors’ championship. Vettel himself ended up in 13th position in the drivers’ standings, marking the lowest points total of his career, with only 33 points scored.
Reflecting on his time with Ferrari, Vettel admitted, “Sometimes things don’t end the way you may have hoped for.” He shared that the primary aim had been to secure a championship title, which ultimately went unachieved. After leaving Ferrari, he spent two seasons racing for Aston Martin before announcing his retirement at the end of 2022.
Vettel was not unique in his struggles at Ferrari; fellow multiple champion Fernando Alonso also faced disappointment during his five-year stint from 2010 to 2014, where he finished as a runner-up thrice, despite coming close to winning titles in 2010 and 2012.
The last driver to take home a championship title for Ferrari was Kimi Raikkonen in 2007, although the team did secure a constructors’ title in 2008. Vettel joined Ferrari in 2015, following his success with Red Bull Racing, where he clinched four consecutive championships. Lewis Hamilton is set to join the team in 2025, pursuing a similar ambition of championship success.
Despite the unmet goals, Vettel reminisced positively about his time at Ferrari, stating, “I still had a great time, made a lot of friends and fell in love with the country and the people.” He stressed that he has many happy memories to cherish from his years in Maranello.