‘Vettel will stay with Ferrari in 2021’

Sebastian Vettel will remain with Ferrari for 2021 but after that, Karun Chandhok is “less sure” about what the German will be doing.

Vettel’s future is once again the hot topic of a silly season, and is likely to remain for another month or two as fans and the media await the start of the 2020 championship.

Last year he was reportedly considering retiring at the end of the campaign and spent much of the season denying just that.

This year, though, is officially, at the moment at least, his last with Ferrari.

Vettel has, at least according to the rumour mill, been offered a new one-year deal for 2021 but it comes with a massive pay cut.

He is believed to have said no to that.

However, former F1 driver turned commentator Chandhok isn’t so sure the reports about Vettel saying no are true.

In fact he reckons the four-time World Champion “will” extend his Ferrari stay into next year.

“I think he will sign for 2021,” Chandhok said on the Sky Sports show.

“The pressure is now off his shoulders due to the delay and therefore he is less in the spotlight.”

But 2022 could be a different story with Daniel Ricciardo and Carlos Sainz believed to be on Ferrari’s short list to replace the German.

Chandhok added: “For 2022 I’m less sure though, because Daniel Ricciardo and Carlos Sainz will be banging on the door, because regardless of the rule changes Ferrari will remain a top team.”

Vettel, Chandhok says, will also have to be open to a pay cut as has been reported.

“With Leclerc, Ferrari already has a future star in its hands, so they don’t have to pay Vettel that much at all now,” he concluded.

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