In the wake of reports suggesting that Sebastian Vettel has a signed pre-agreement to join Mercedes for 2018, Sebastian Vettel admits he is not sure what will happen next season while team chief Maurizio Arrivabene says it’s all noise.
Speaking to Sky Sport, Vettel said, “It’s my first time in this situation where I don’t really know what happens next year, but I’m not too worried. I’m really focused on what’s going on right now, and that’s the same in the team from what I hear from people.”
“There’s also other people in the team that don’t have a contract for next year, but they’re not worried! We’re full on trying to focus on this year, trying to improve the car we have and fight with Mercedes,” added the triple Formula 1 World Champion.
Niki Lauda reportedly told confidantes that Mercedes and Vettel signed a pre-agreement at the end of last season, when tensions were high in the Ferrari team after a well below par season for the Reds, in which Vettel was criticised by both team chief Maurizio Arrivabene and big boss Sergio Marchionne.
Since then things appear to have been smoothed over at Maranello, thanks to a car that has brought them two victories already in 2017 but also largely to some shrewd management decisions, coupled to a new focus within the ranks which have borne fruit.
When asked about the reports, Arrivabene replied, “I have a lot of respect for Niki, but if they put on paper all his statements for the last two or three years, some things are true and some are just put out there to create noise.”