Vettel Admits There Were “Fights I Should Not Have Picked” At Ferrari

At the end of the 2020 season, Sebastian Vettel would part ways with Ferrari, bringing an end to his 5-year reign with the team. The former world champion did not renew his contract with the team but would instead be joining team, Aston Martin, in 2021.

Vettel joined Ferrari back in 2015 with a dream to win a championship with them, but 5 years down the line now, he has failed to achieve it. Team Ferrari has been the shadow of themselves this season with their poor performance and, according to word from the team principal, Mattia Binotto, it would take a long while for them to fix things. That means there is not much Vettel can do and it would be better for the German to find a new team to join. His best performance was in 2017 and 2018 where he finished as runner up to the championship. But it was not Vettel’s decision not to renew the contract. He just was not offered the chance by the team.

Speaking in an interview, Vettel was quite reflective, going over some things he had done and what he could have done differently. He said, “It is true that I have failed because I set myself the mission or the target to win the championship with Ferrari. I have failed. I didn’t manage to do that. There are things that I should have done better, things that maybe I should have seen earlier, fights that maybe I shouldn’t have picked.

“But, then again, I think everything that happened brought me to where I am now. If I’m fair and harsh then I have failed. Were there reasons? Probably yes, but I don’t accept them as excuses. So, whatever happened also put me on the next step forward and next level. Maybe [the fights] weren’t worth fighting, but then again part of it is probably my nature. And I think I had a point as well in some of these little fights and battles. But I think ultimately that’s how you mature and how you learn. I’m happy to move on.” He said.

The four-time championship winner would join Aston Martin next season, taking the place of Sergio Perez, who would be exiting the team at the end of 2020. He sees Aston Martin as a fun challenge that he would like to join. Hopefully, he would be able to claim a fifth championship with the English team.

Written by: Leon Osamor