Christian Horner says World Champion heading to Ferrari in 2015; Vettel will be replaced by Daniil Kvyat at Red Bull; Fernando Alonso “has a plan” but McLaren insist no drivers signed yet
Vettel’s decision paves the way for Daniil Kvyat’s arrival from Toro Rosso but with Horner telling Sky Sports F1 that the four-time title winner is bound for Maranello, it also all-but confirms Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari departure at the end of the current season.
“I am leaving a very, very happy place which is why it is always difficult, but at some point in your life I think you feel that you want to do something new and something different,” Vettel explained to Sky F1. “That feeling has kept growing and led me to decide to leave Red Bull and go and start a new chapter.”
Vettel’s decision caught Red Bull unawares, with Horner revealing that the World Champion only informed him of his intentions late on Friday night after being summoned to the German’s hotel room.
“Seb’s been with Red Bull for 15 years as a junior driver and as a Formula 1 driver, so he’s obviously been giving this a great deal of thought,” said Horner.
“He informed us last night and obviously had his reasoning behind that. I don’t think he’d taken the decision lightly and was obviously very emotional about it. But if it’s his desire to be somewhere else, then it’s not right for us to stand in his path.
