According to Sky Sports Italia, Scuderia Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel have finally sorted out the German’s contract issues. Apparently, the new deal is a one-year contract, though Vettel may be forced to accept a reduced salary.
Vettel’s earlier contract is running it course and will conclude at the end of whatever is left of the 2020 season. Over the past few years, Vettel has been a bit underwhelming in the Ferrari overalls.
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However, it became more evident when Charles Leclerc stepped into the SF-90 and almost immediately showed him up. In 2019, the 4-time world champion notched up just one Grand Prix win. This is unless you count the Canadian Grand Prix, where he copped a penalty.
Vettel’s current annual salary is 33 million euros, though Sky Sports Italia predicts that the new contract will reduce it. However, the publication remained silent on how much the deficit would be.
“In 2017 things looked very different for Vettel,” explains the Italian source about the current negotiating position of Vettel. “With Sergio Marchionne he agreed to sign up for three seasons, for a total value of 100 million euros. Those years he was undoubtedly the leader of the team.”
What next for Sebastian Vettel?
With Charles Leclerc slowly establishing himself as the alpha driver, where does that leave Sebastian Vettel? Leclerc had the measure of Vettel all the way through 2019. This put the German is in a much more vulnerable negotiating position. To make matters worse, the alternatives are considerably worse, in case he doesn’t want to swallow his pride and he walks out the door.
“If Vettel refuses, however, that doesn’t necessarily mean he can a seat somewhere else,” warns Sky Italia. “The next few months will be important for Vettel, his future is at stake without him being able to prove his worth on the track. For the first time in his life he will enter the contract meeting without having the power in his hands”.
Frankly, Sebastian Vettel is unused to playing second fiddle. Throughout his F1 career, he has been the de facto team leader and the number one driver, whether at Red Bull or Ferrari. With Charles Leclerc signing a long-term contract, Vettel may have to get used to it.
