Horner: Ricciardo was "probably a factor" in Vettel’s departure

During the next season in 2015, Sebastian Vettel will leave Red Bull F1, where he won 4 world championship titles, to join Ferrari. However, the 2014 season was challenging as the German driver did not win any races, whereas Daniel Ricciardo claimed 3 victories under the Red Bull banner.

According to the Austrian team’s boss, the triggering event would have occurred at the Italian Grand Prix where the German driver was overtaken by his Australian teammate.

In an interview with the BBC F1, Christian Horner reflected on this episode: « He was extremely frustrated after the Grand Prix; after the summer break, I saw him very distracted, and it was obvious he had something on his mind, he stated.

The English leader believes it was difficult to retain Vettel.

« Ferrari must have courted him quite strongly and around the races at Spa and Monza, he made the decision to do something different next year » he continues.

Subsequently, Horner recalls that Vettel made a definitive decision between the Italian Grand Prix and the Singapore Grand Prix in September:

« By the time he arrived in Singapore, it was obvious that he was a different person. He was more relaxed and you could tell that he had made his decision, but things sped up when Alonso actually left Ferrari. So, no, it wasn’t a big surprise » states Horner.

Sebastian Vettel will start the 2015 season with Ferrari, alongside Kimi Räikkönen. The youngest four-time F1 world champion wanted a change of scenery and wished to drive a Ferrari. Another reason is that Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel’s idol, drove a Ferrari where he won 5 world titles.

Christian Horner reflects on the legacy Sebastian Vettel will have left at Red Bull:

« The timing was just right for Sebastian; he had a very successful career with us, having been with Red Bull since the age of 12. He won 4 world championships, 39 Grand Prix, and 45 pole positions. I think he was contemplating, ‘I am 27 years old today, and I don’t want to end my career without having driven for Ferrari, and I have the opportunity to go there.’ For any driver, the allure of Ferrari is very powerful. » he continues.

Horner stated that Vettel had difficulties adapting to the new F1 cars following the introduction of hybrid V6 turbo engines, reductions in aerodynamic downforce, and fuel restrictions.

He didn’t like what F1 had become and he talked a lot about it. He didn’t like the engines, the noise, the sensations in the car. He was quite upset about this at the start of the season, but when he realized that nothing was going to change, he started to get used to it. He worked very hard, as he always did. He became very frustrated; the car wasn’t doing what he wanted, and of course, on top of that, his teammate was winning a few races by performing as he knows how to do, he explains.

Horner thinks that the ban on rear aerodynamics, which was an area where Red Bull excelled, had a strong impact on the German driver.

« The rule changes were significant and the two guys who seem to have been most affected are Seb and Kimi, and I think removing the rear support played a huge role in Sebastian’s disadvantage » concludes Horner.