/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn-tor.buminteractif.com%2Ffanf1%2F2026%2F03%2FGettyImages-2262668236-scaled.jpg)
As his contract draws to a close, we look back on Sebastian Vettel's time at Ferrari, marked by a podium finish in Turkey that felt like a victory and demonstrated his newfound consistency in racing.
Sebastian Vettel's transfer from Ferrari to Aston Martin (now Racing Point) was announced several months ago, but it still seems incomplete. The German never had the opportunity to win the world title with the Italian team, which was constantly overshadowed by Mercedes, the undisputed master of the V6 hybrid engine era.
A promising start
The partnership between Vettel and Ferrari got off to a flying start. After a mixed 2014 season with Red Bull, he returned to winning ways in 2015, winning three Grand Prix races and establishing himself as the third force on the grid behind the two dominant Mercedes drivers.
However, 2016 was a much less exciting year. Mercedes' dominance was overwhelming, conceding only two victories, both won by Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen. Nevertheless, these two seasons provided Ferrari with valuable data and a solid foundation on which to build for future title battles.
“A car that should have been world champion”
From the start of the 2017 season, Vettel looked like a real challenger to Mercedes, stringing together victories and hot on the heels of Lewis Hamilton. But the end of the season revealed the limitations of the Italian package, which failed to deliver the crucial points Vettel needed, allowing Hamilton, backed by consistent driving and a reliable car, to win the championship.
The rivalry between the two four-time champions intensified in 2018, with the two drivers trading blows until mid-season. Ferrari's chassis problems resurfaced and a series of uncharacteristic errors from Vettel saw the title slip away once again to Hamilton, who was well on his way to victory.
Many experts described the 2017-2018 Ferraris as the fastest on the grid, but their reliability issues ultimately cost them the championship.
“There's a new sheriff in town”
This phrase sums up what the 2019-2020 season was like for Vettel at Ferrari. After 2018, Kimi Raikkonen was let go and the team turned to young Charles Leclerc. Leclerc's arrival marked a turning point for Vettel, who gradually found himself in a supporting role previously occupied by “Iceman.” Fluent in Italian, Leclerc quickly became a fan favorite, especially after his triumph at Monza, his second victory of the season after Belgium. Closer to the public and faster on the track, Leclerc began to overshadow Vettel, who seemed to be losing his edge after a series of disappointments since his arrival at Maranello. The gloomy atmosphere within the team was widely seen as a key factor in Vettel's difficulties.
A difficult 2020 season
The 2020 campaign reinforced this perception. Even before the first race, Vettel was not a priority for the team. Tensions rose, particularly with team principal Mattia Binotto, whose leadership was far from unanimous. Vettel struggled with the SF1000, often finishing outside the points, while Leclerc shouldered most of the workload and kept Ferrari competitive throughout the year. Rumors of Vettel's premature departure surfaced, with the two sides unable to find common ground. Critics blamed him for his lack of commitment, but the former champion kept his cool, repeatedly expressing his hope for better days at every press conference. Those better days finally arrived at the season-ending Turkish Grand Prix, where the rain-slicked track had become dangerous. Vettel drove a masterful race, starting from the front row, overtaking his teammate in the final corners and clinching an unexpected podium finish. This third place felt like a victory for both Ferrari and Vettel, who confessed to his engineer that he was finally able to sleep peacefully that night. The last three races allowed Ferrari to climb back up to third place in the constructors' championship after a season marked by few highs and many lows, and gave Vettel a dignified farewell before his departure for Aston Martin, where the team hopes to restore him to his former glory.
