Vettel Unsure He Can Emulate Raikkonen, Ferrari Chief Addresses Exit Rumors

Sebastian Vettel is unsure he can keep racing in Formula 1 until he is in his 40s like his current Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen, who recently signed a two-year deal with the Sauber F1 team.

The 39-year-old Finn will be replaced by young rising star Charles Leclerc at Ferrari next season and many were expecting him to hang up his helmet after the Italian team revealed their decision.

But Raikkonen surprised everyone by committing his future to the Hinwil-based team for two seasons, which means he will celebrate his 41st birthday during his second season with Sauber.

The Finnish racer made his debut in 2003 with the McLaren team and is the last driver to win a F1 Drivers’ championship for Ferrari – that came during his first stint with the Italian team between 2007 and 2009.

Vettel, however, is doubtful if he will have the longevity in F1 of his current teammate. The German made his debut as a 19-year-old and is currently 31, which means he will have to drive for another decade to replicate Raikkonen’s feat.

The Ferrari driver has won four F1 Drivers’ titles since making his debut and has been Lewis Hamilton’s closest challenger in the last two seasons. Vettel is not ready to rule out the possibility of him racing for another decade, but admitted that it could only be likely if he continues to challenge for the title with Ferrari for the next ten years.

“Well, it’s another ten years from now to go as long as Kimi,” Vettel told Autosport. “It is a long time. It's as long as I've been here, so now it’s half time basically. I don't know.

“We're looking at 400 Grand Prix... in total. I don't know, you should never say never, but maybe not. I don't know,” the four-time world champion added. “It depends, you know. If I win the next ten years with Ferrari, than yeah, why not?

Meanwhile, Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene has dismissed outright the speculation regarding technical director Mattia Binotto leaving the team at the end of the season.

In the aftermath of the Mexican Grand Prix where Lewis Hamilton was crowned champion reports emerged that a disgruntled Binotto is looking to leave the team. Mercedes and Renault were said to be on alert and were ready to pounce if the became available.

However, Arrivabene has brandished the reports as fake news and made it clear no one is leaving the team. He said the speculation is created to destabilize the team and rather than losing personnel, they could be making reinforcements going into next season.

“Let’s make it clear once and for all,” Arrivabene said, as quoted on Planet F1. “The rumours about Mattia are a fake news, put around to create instability in the team.”

“It is an attempt to try to create problems where there are no problems, and I do not want to comment on false rumours anymore. ... During this season there have been many attempts at destabilisation, sometimes with stories about the drivers, others about the technicians,” he added.

“No one has ever spoken of goodbyes, possibly we can talk about reinforcements. But it takes time, we’ll think about it next season. Today the team is there, and it’s a good and compact team.”

“If there are reinforcements they will arrive without any haste, I stress it, and [only] if we need to have them,” Arrivabene explained. “The line is that of stability, if there are additions [they] will not undermine the soundness of the existing group.”

“A team that works only needs reinforcements, not revolutions. Personally, I have never believed in revolutions, but in evolution.”