2020 was indeed the most opportunistic Formula One season for the driver’s market in recent times. Why you might ask? Quite unusually, both the big teams, Ferrari and Red Bull, had a vacant seat there for the take, with Sebastian Vettel and Alexander Albon, bowing out of their respective outfits.
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But, let’s focus on the four-time world champion for now. Soon after the Ferrari exit, rumors of Vettel retiring from F1 echoed across the racing community. However, to everyone’s surprise, that wasn’t the case in reality, as Aston Martin stunned the world by pulling out a multi-year deal with the German.
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Of course, it certainly hasn’t been the kind of stint Vettel would’ve hoped for, which may have motivated the former Red Bull star to announce his retirement by the end of the 2022 season. And now, Red Bull F1 boss, Christian Horner, has made a shocking admission about Vettel which dates back to 2020.
Horner makes an unexpected Sebastian Vettel confession
Turns out, Red Bull were one of the teams to closely monitor the Vettel-Ferrari development during the 2020 season. What’s more, following Ferrari’s official announcement, Horner did engage in contractual talks with the 34-year-old. Unfortunately, the fact that Red Bull would be running after a driver that had once left them for another team, convinced the Milton Keynes outfit to look elsewhere.
Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 9, 2021 Red Bull team principal Christian Horner arrives ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
“We had a few exploratory talks but it would be a bit like going back to an old girlfriend. It would probably never be quite the same second time around,” Horner said on the idea of a potential Vettel-Red Bull reunion.
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Eventually, Red Bull’s gamble did pay off, with Aston Martin indirectly offering them a golden opportunity. The British outfit had their eyes on Vettel and hence chose to let go of their in-form lead driver, Sergio Perez. Furthermore, Red Bull swooped down to snatch the Mexican before the other teams could even think about initiating contractual talks.
Why Vettel left Red Bull for Ferrari
It was indeed shocking when the news broke out that Vettel would be moving teams from Red Bull to Ferrari. The German was still oozing with confidence, having won four consecutive titles with the Austrian outfit, with 2014 being the odd one out. So, many wondered why Vettel would risk making such a decision. Well, here’s why!
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SUZUKA, JAPAN – OCTOBER 02: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Red Bull Racing prepares to drive during practice for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on October 2, 2009 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Vladimir Rys/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Vettel publicly clarified that failing to win the 2014 title was not the reason to leave Red Bull. “It’s not a decision based on the current results, it’s more a voice inside me that kept growing and it’s a step that I’m very much looking forward to,” he said. “You can compare it to at some point in your life you decide to grow up and move out of home. It is a big step like that – it feels like leaving home.”
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Overall, the Aston Martin move, much like the Ferrari move in 2015, failed to reach his expectations. But, of course, it was either Aston Martin or retirement for the German in 2020 and choosing the former seemed like the wiser call.
