World champion Sebastian Vettel has confirmed he will stay at Red Bull until the end of 2014.
Vettel had been the subject of speculation over the winter around a future move to Ferrari.
The contract extension announced today means he will stay with Red Bull for four seasons.
Vettel joined the team in 2009.
View the list of 2011 F1 drivers and teams.
- Razia and Valsecchi to be Lotus reserve drivers
- Pedro de la Rosa rejoins McLaren as reserve
- HRT confirm Liuzzi as Karthikeyan’s team mate
- Di Resta to race for Force India, H?â??lkenberg to test
- Fairuz Fauzy joins Renault as reserve driver for 2011
- HRT confirm Karthikeyan in team for 2011
- Renault set date for ‘Lotus Renault GP R31’ launch
- Force India to launch VJM04 at Jerez test
- Petrov to remain at Renault in 2011 and 2012
- Jerome d’Ambrosio to drive for Virgin in 2011
Image ?é?® Red Bull/Getty images
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th March 2011, 12:07
He still hasn’t had a shave, though. He should be contractually obligated to get rid of the facial fungus.
GeeMac (@geemac)
14th March 2011, 12:09
Like McLaren’s drivers are…
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th March 2011, 12:15
Button shaved because his girlfriend made him shave. It could be worse, though – Fernando Alonso shaved because his mother made him do it.
As for Lewis Hamilton, he shaved, too. He then went back with a felt-tip pen and drew a line around his jaw. Probably so he could fit in when he makes a cameo in his girlfriend’s next music video.
Ben N
14th March 2011, 12:15
:D
GeeMac (@geemac)
14th March 2011, 12:23
I always understood that it was McLaren’s policy.
There are no team members with facial hair, and I can’t remember any (apart from Nige’s tasche and Norbert Haug’s late 90’s tasche). DC only sprouted his stubble once he went to Red Bull. Didn’t Mateschitz tell DC “I’m not going to tell you to shave every day” when he joined RBR?
raymondu999 (@raymondu999)
14th March 2011, 12:40
Did McLaren also use to have a short hair policy? I remember their two champion drivers in 2007 had very short hair
TommyB (@tommyb89)
14th March 2011, 13:08
Didn’t Alonso grow a beard at McLaren just to annoy them after they fell out mid-season?
Anyway I think it’s pretty obvious it’s McLaren’s policy.
Alonso 06 – http://bit.ly/hN1f7V
Alonso 07 (McLaren) – http://bit.ly/fD5GYz
Alonso 08 – http://bit.ly/hoewfs
Steve
14th March 2011, 13:35
Lewis doesn’t have facial hair yet. They eliminated the chance of that happening while they were designing his DNA code.
Baracca
14th March 2011, 14:06
News have leaked they were designing some biological warfare agent, but that’s what we got instead
NuWo
14th March 2011, 15:57
Instead? Waddayamean instead?
US_Peter (@us_peter)
14th March 2011, 17:04
He still looks like a kid in that ’07 pick, but more like he does now in ’08. The whole McLaren stint must have aged him a bit/taken its toll.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
14th March 2011, 13:44
Makes you wonder…what would actually happen if they defied McLaren? Get the boot? Doubt it!
GeeMac (@geemac)
14th March 2011, 14:24
They’d probably get the hairdryer treatment from Uncle Ron…a fate worse than death I imagine.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
14th March 2011, 17:03
:-) It certainly always looks that way.
Dane
14th March 2011, 21:39
Jenson wasnt clean shaved when he won @ Melb & Malaysia last year. So im not sure if the Mclaren clean shaved policy exists
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
14th March 2011, 21:45
I think it’s one of the things they’ve relaxed since Whitmarsh took over the F1 operation.
Maksutov
15th March 2011, 3:12
LOL
mef
15th March 2011, 12:43
“I think it’s one of the things they’ve relaxed since Whitmarsh took over the F1 operation.”
In other words – since he turned them into a pale shadow of their former-selves.
Ben N
14th March 2011, 12:15
A nice gesture – but in reality means little, as Ferrari, Fernando, Kimi, Jenson, Williams etc have shown in the past. In this big money world contracts can be bought out with great ease.
Cole (@cole)
14th March 2011, 18:40
Another good thing about Red Bull is They extended Newey’s contract either.
That could have been another decision maker, or even a sin equa non on their contracts (either way).
Alex Bkk
15th March 2011, 5:25
So Newey comes with the package…. sweet for RB.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th March 2011, 22:17
Do you honestly think Red Bull will simply let Vettel go? So long as they keep building title-worthy cars, they’ll be short to keep him as close as tey can.
Kimster
15th March 2011, 18:11
If they can’t build a winning car and he wants out of his contract , they won’t stop him.
RIISE (@riise)
14th March 2011, 12:19
Best decision, if he went to Ferrari to replace Massa it would destroy him.
Let’s see if Red Bull can keep up the cars pace though.
Ben N
14th March 2011, 12:23
I disagree – although Fernando wouldn’t have it. If it was Alonso in the other Red Bull in Turkey – I think we would have seen something catastrophic.
RIISE (@riise)
14th March 2011, 12:35
It would be impossible for Alonso and Vettel to crash because Fernando would already be so far ahead that Vettel wouldn’t get close.
I love being biased!!!
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th March 2011, 12:36
You were watching in Singapore, right?
RIISE (@riise)
14th March 2011, 13:52
Yes I was watching a Red Bull superior to the Ferrari not being able to get past….
Todfod (@todfod)
14th March 2011, 14:53
Gotta agree with Riise.. (I’m biased too btw)
Seb would have been no match for Fernando in an RB6. I actually hope Seb goes to Ferrari while Alonso is still there.. would definitely be an interesting battle.
Mike
14th March 2011, 18:29
Like Lewis was no match for Fernando in the Mc… oh wait…
Mike
14th March 2011, 18:40
You mean like the time Alonso couldn’t pass Petrov?
Last Pope Eye
14th March 2011, 19:16
Agree with RIISE too. Seb is simply no match for Fernando. Stay with RB Seb! With superior car it will look like you are great…
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th March 2011, 22:21
A far cry from Alonso being so far ahead of Vettel that Vettel would not be able to see him, wouldn’t you say?
By the end of 2010, Ferrari and Red Bull were fairly comparable on pace. How else do you explain Ferrari being able to keep up with them in Singapore, Korea and Brazil?
BasCB (@bascb)
14th March 2011, 13:15
LOL, nice one.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
14th March 2011, 13:46
Touche! ;)
Todfod (@todfod)
14th March 2011, 20:14
@Mike.. we are not comparing him to Lewis now are we?
sato113 (@sato113)
14th March 2011, 14:10
let’s hope Kubica will join ferrari now from 2012-2014 at least
Daniel
14th March 2011, 12:28
Well, what about Webber then?
Ben N
14th March 2011, 12:32
What about Webber?
electrolite (@electrolite)
14th March 2011, 12:33
Webber’s already said he’s taking one year at a time and seeing what happens. He’s 33, 34 now? That doesn’t mean however he’s got to quite now he’s in his thirties, I mean he’s a fit guy, he could be with us for another decade yet you never know.
I suppose as a young champion Vettel’s in a different position where he absolutely needs a secure long term position with a top team.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th March 2011, 12:35
Especially since there’s been a lot of talk about a move to Ferrari of late. Vettel has talked it down, but Red Bull were obviously eager to stitch him up for another few years.
BasCB (@bascb)
14th March 2011, 13:17
But interestingly, Autosport had Marko quoted with saying this gets them “everyone key to the succes” tied to 2014!
Only to be expected of him, but it clearly shows where Webber is with the team management.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th March 2011, 12:34
What about him? Red Bull are under no obligation to offer him a contract just because they have signed Vettel up until 2015.
Toro Stevo
14th March 2011, 12:38
His contract is only for this year. Murmurs are though he might want to try for 2012 as well, and Horner was receptive of the idea a few weeks ago as long as he was still quick.
The new Vettel contract might be contingent on them not re-signing Webber though…
US_Peter (@us_peter)
14th March 2011, 17:12
I doubt it. Vettel doesn’t seem the petty type.
raymondu999 (@raymondu999)
14th March 2011, 12:42
As I understand it they also locked in Newey until 2014 no?
Ned Flanders (@ned-flanders)
14th March 2011, 13:08
In that case we might be looking at Vettel as a 5 time champion by the end of 2014… uh oh
BasCB (@bascb)
14th March 2011, 13:18
Who knows, maybe McLaren will bring something extreme working right out of the box for next year.
Or Ferrari/Alonso get the team orders working properly to make it nr. 3 and 4 for him.
RaulZ
15th March 2011, 7:57
Newey’s time is over. The HRT secret weapon is here!
GeeMac (@geemac)
14th March 2011, 13:42
I just shuddered when I read that.
Todfod (@todfod)
14th March 2011, 15:00
Yeah that is a scary thought. Vettel is one of my favourite drivers (after Alonso & Kubica), but the thought of that kid having a dominant car for 5 straight seasons, while Fernando, Robert and Lewis struggle in their respective teams…. is just tragic.
Hari
14th March 2011, 16:15
I’d love to see that anyway!
verstappen
14th March 2011, 13:58
Yup. And some 50 other key people. Source: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89911
Shimks
14th March 2011, 15:41
I wonder what Newey gets paid a year.
Hari
14th March 2011, 16:16
Which is exactly the same thought that has been running through my mind now!
jsw11984 (@jarred-walmsley)
14th March 2011, 19:13
More than you or I will make in a lifetime
Last Pope Eye
14th March 2011, 19:18
$25M a year!
jsw11984 (@jarred-walmsley)
15th March 2011, 5:17
Wouldn’t surprise me
Andy C
14th March 2011, 13:18
Good move for both parties. And a good move to ensure either Ferrari cannot sign him, or they need to pay a lot of money to release him.
I still think he will end up there at some point. :-)
I imagine they will be competitive until at least (you never know with new engine regs) 2013.
If hes able to add a little more racecraft to his game, he’ll be a very formidable opponent for the rest of the guys for the coming years.
Hes certainly got the pace, just needs a little polishing around the edges.
Steve
14th March 2011, 13:40
I think Ferrari would rather grab up the next big talent instead.
GeeMac (@geemac)
14th March 2011, 14:30
Are we so hard on people that the youngest world champion in the history of the sport is no longer considered to be the next big thing (without having raced a single race with the number 1 on his car)! ;)
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
14th March 2011, 13:44
The only way I see Vettel at Ferrari is if Alonso isn’t there.
Fixy (@)
14th March 2011, 14:24
And he is with Ferrari for some time. Massa is too good to leave. Therefore until 2014 Vettel will be away from Ferrari.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
14th March 2011, 21:37
Massa is too subordinate for Ferrari to want him to leave.
That’s what the cynic in me says ;)
Maksutov
15th March 2011, 3:18
that ^
Andrew Martel
15th March 2