Vettel: No regrets about Ferrari but I still identify with Red Bull

Speaking on ORF’s Sport am Sonntag podcast, Vettel reflected candidly on his move from the team with which he won four consecutive F1 World Championships to the one he once fought as a rival, namely Ferrari: “I don’t regret the move itself. I think it brought me a lot, especially in terms of experience and appreciating what I had at Red Bull at the time.”

Vettel joined Ferrari in 2015 as the heir to Fernando Alonso, whom he had twice beaten to the title in dramatic finales in 2010 and 2012. Despite 14 victories in red, making him the third-most successful Ferrari driver after Michael Schumacher and Niki Lauda, he never managed to secure a fifth world title.

Although Vettel enjoyed strong relationships at Maranello, he made clear that RBR still holds a special place in his heart: “Even though I had a great time at Ferrari later on, a big part of me still identifies with Red Bull and Red Bull Racing.”

The 37-year-old also reflected on how he handled the transition, suggesting some regret in how he exited the Red Bull family: “I think it would have been more dignified to simply say it outright and maybe not stick to the clause. The people and the moments we shared brought us together.”

Vettel, who rose through the ranks of the Red Bull Junior Academy and claimed all four of his world titles with the team between 2010 and 2013, remains closely linked to its history and success, even a decade after his departure.

Regarding a leadership role with Red Bull for Vettel, the team's long-time advisor Helmut Marko shut down the conversation recently, stating: “That’s not an issue and won’t be an issue."

Stats show that Vettel raced for Ferrari from 2015 to 2020, starting 118 Grands Prix and securing 14 victories, 12 pole positions, and 55 podiums. He finished as championship runner-up in 2017 and 2018 but failed to deliver a title.

Vettel scored 1,112 points with the Scuderia and ranks third on their all-time wins list behind Schumacher (72) and Lauda (15). Despite early promise, Ferrari’s inconsistent form and strategic errors ultimately denied him the championship he had hoped to win in red.