The protracted divorce between Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari has come to the point that there is even talk of separation before the season ends.
Earlier this year the German was deemed surplus to requirements regarding the Scuderia's future, which now belongs to Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz as of 2021.
The Reds took the opportunity of the COVID-19 breakout to
not negotiate with their German driver while showing him the door at the same time. There were no talks at all, not even a question of money as some at Maranello 'insiders' claimed at the time. Nada!
It was shameful treatment for the four-times F1 World Champion.
At $40-million a year, Seb is no bargain and be sure he will want to bank every dollar of his contract or at least be bought out; for now, neither Mattia Binotto nor Vettel claim to see a problem and report all is well when all indications suggest the contrary.
Thinking contracts and the breaking of them, blinking on this one may be expensive for either party so they will tow the party line.
However, the trade-off for Seb means suffering the humiliation he is going through (or, depending on how you look at it, putting himself through) and the reality is he is out of sorts, low in confidence, teamless and, apparently, not really in demand right now.
Formula 1 motorsport chief Ross Brawn, astute as ever in the F1 paddock inner circle, has also been intrigued by the theatrics at Maranello (his former haunt) and wrote of it in his post-Spanish Grand Prix column, "It’s tough to watch Sebastian and Ferrari go through the motions right now,
"Both sides knowing that the end of their relationship is almost upon them. They are in that period of a divorce where the papers have been served, but the divorce hasn’t gone through. It’s very awkward.
"The chemistry between a driver and their team is so important. You’re part of a team and you succeed as a team, and fail as a team. Managing that dynamic is always a challenge.
"When a driver has been told he is no longer needed, it’s one of the most difficult times for a team. He knows you no longer want him and the cracks appear quickly. It is up to the team to manage it as best they can.
"From my own painful experience, I know drivers in this situation can be a handful," warned Brawn who knows a thing or two about driver management.
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