At Ferrari, the undesirable Vettel will be fascinating on the track this year

Martin Brundle says Sebastian Vettel will be in the Ferrari garage this year persona non grata, or an unwanted person, but his departure at the end of the season is supposed to give him wings.

Vettel will take off this year last season for the team from Maranella, with whom he failed to agree on a new contract. The prevailing general belief is that Ferrari will favor young Charles Leclerc, who will race for the Italian team at least until the end of 2024, making Vettel feel uncomfortable with the soggy pitch. “In that case, you’re a little undesirable in the garage because the team doesn’t want you to know anything about the preparations for next season,” Brundle explained.

“It’s about the little things. People interrupt conversations when you enter a room. They avoid your views. They prefer to look at the ground or away. That’s not when you get on a team. In the beginning, everyone is full of excitement when you come to the factory and everyone is happy for you. When you compare a seat, everyone is focused on the future.

When you are on the way out of the team, however, relationships become uncomfortable. But you have to think about it somehow. As this season is tight, it may be a little easier for Vettl. ”

But Vettel, like Kimi Raikkonen in the 2018 season, when he won the U.S. Grand Prix for the first time in five years and said goodbye to the team at the end of the season, will be able to show everything he can on the track. Brundle is of the opinion that the four-time world champion will race for himself this year.

“To be honest, I think Vettel will get wings this year. He hasn't given much to team commands in the past when he raced with Mark Webber as well as Leclerc. He will not be interested in team games this year either. He will drive for himself, no doubt about it. I think he will be strong this year as I doubt he has lost speed. He may have lost some of his sharpness in duels, but he’s likely to be pretty fascinating this year. Ferrari will clearly favor Leclerc, on which they are building the future, but many would agree that they did it last year anyway, ”he added.