Ferrari's team boss Mattia Binotto says his star driver Sebastian Vettel is not leaving the Maranello team despite that after the German's latest mistake, many in the partisan Italian media indicated they had lost faith in the German's waywardness.
Two weekends ago, he rear-ended Max Verstappen's Red Bull in the heat of battle at Silverstone which launched a myriad of headlines and prompted suggestions Vettel will call it a day, or at least take a sabbatical, at the end of the season.
But Binotto is convinced that Vettel is still committed to Maranello and told Corriere dello Sport, "I think Vettel is happy to be with us. Of course, he would be happier if he returned to winning races and if he had a stronger car.
"I see in him a great desire to keep racing and to win again. His dream is to do that with Ferrari and I have no doubt about his intentions and his commitment," Binotto added, repeating his stance on the matter.
The comments by the Scuderia chief come amid rampant speculation that the 32-year-old potentially quitting Formula 1 or returning to Red Bull.
Indeed, Vettel has been seen with his old bosses Christian Horner and Dr Helmut Marko at recent races, but these encounters have been played down.
"If we meet for a chat, that's far from an indication that we will work together again soon," Red Bull boss Horner insisted, according to Speed Week. "To my knowledge, Sebastian is under contract for 2020. There are no negotiations."
Horner added that Red Bull is more than happy with Max Verstappen, while Pierre Gasly is steadily improving, "No, I don't think anything will change in the top teams in 2020."
F1 legend Alain Prost, an advisor at Renault, was asked by the Canal Plus to comment on Vettel's high profile struggles, on and off the track, at Ferrari in 2019.
He observed, "Perhaps it was due to insufficient concentration or motivation, or underestimating the situation. He is clearly under pressure because now everyone is discussing whether he will end his career and all sorts of rumours."
"Honestly, it has to be said that he is going through a very difficult period," added Prost, a four-time F1 World Champion.
Big Question: Should Seb quit Ferrari? Should he quit F1 altogether?
https://www.grandprix247.com/2019/07/19/marko-vettel-needs-to-ditch-ferrari-and-change-teams/
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