A wild rumour is now a certainty: Sebastian Vettel is leaving Red Bull to replace Fernando Alonso at Ferrari in 2015.<\/p>\n
With a Super Typhoon already bearing down, the reigning world champion team sent gasps through the media centre on Saturday morning with its press release.<\/p>\n
“We’re pleased to announce that Daniel (Ricciardo) will be joined in the team for 2015 by another rising star from the junior programme, Daniil Kvyat,” Red Bull said.<\/p>\n
Vettel is obviously heading to Ferrari to replace the disgruntled Spaniard Alonso, whose impending move to McLaren-Honda is also now obvious.<\/p>\n
“I’m not running away and it’s nothing against Red Bull,” German Vettel said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
“There are just times in life when you need to start something new.”<\/p>\n
He didn’t want to jump the gun on Ferrari’s official announcement, which is expected later on Saturday.<\/p>\n
“There will be an announcement soon,” was all Vettel would say.<\/p>\n
But Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was hiding nothing.<\/p>\n
“Obviously Ferrari have made him a very attractive offer,” he said.<\/p>\n
“As of January first he’ll be a competitor.\u00a0 He’ll be a Ferrari driver,” said Horner.<\/p>\n
Dr Helmut Marko, having groomed Vettel from boyhood to F1 stardom, said he has “no bad feelings” about the now 27-year-old as he decides to move on.<\/p>\n
Vettel has consistently denied speculation surrounding his future until now, but Horner said the quadruple world champion has clearly “had a bit on his mind recently”.<\/p>\n
Horner said Vettel had surprised the team with the news late on Friday, despite agreeing his winter test programme and 2015 merchandising plans with Red Bull only on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said Vettel has escaped from his Red Bull contract thanks to an exit clause on performance grounds.<\/p>\n
Horner said: “If somebody’s heart is not there, it doesn’t matter what you have on a piece of paper.”<\/p>\n
With Russian Kvyat stepping up at Red Bull’s senior team, it is expected Toro Rosso will fill the gap with Carlos Sainz jr in 2015.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 RIF | GMM<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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