Ecclestone to Vettel: ‘Retire or move to McLaren’

Bernie Ecclestone believes his good friend Sebastian Vettel would have nothing to gain by remaining with Ferrari next year, insisting the German should either retire or move to McLaren.

Vettel’s contract with the Scuderia runs out at the end of 2020, and there have been reports that team boss Mattia Binotto has offered his driver to extend his stay at Maranello by a single year while also taking a significant pay cut.

Ferrari has allgedly made Vettel an offer he could refuse

Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc’s future with the Italian outfit is set in stone until the end of 2024, a term that reflects Binotto’s confidence in the Monegasque.

And that’s a problem for Ecclestone in terms of Vettel’s own potential future with the team.

“I think that Sebastian’s performance has recently suffered under the Ferrari constellation with new team-mate Charles Leclerc, who is also managed by the FIA President’s son,” Ecclestone told F1-Insider.com, alluding to Nicolas Todt.

“I suspect he doesn’t see Binotto as the supporter he needs in his situation.

“Sebastian should therefore stop or look for alternatives for 2021. McLaren, once again with Mercedes engines, could be one.”
McLaren F1 boss Andreas Seidl is rumored to be interested in Vettel, but only if Carlos Sainz parts ways with the Woking-based outfit.

However, the Spaniard claims he has already started contract talks with his current team, dismissing a potential courtship from suitor Ferrari.