‘Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari’ is going to come to an end this season. Jenson Button has raised concerns over Ferrari’s coronavirus excuse.
Sebastian Vettel leaving the Ferrari team after this season has been the talking point in F1 so far. It reached a boiling point after Vettel claimed that he was forced out, without any discussion whatsoever.
Sebastian Vettel let go because of coronavirus pandemic
This led the Ferrari Boss to admit that Vettel is indeed correct, and that he is not surprised by the German’s reaction. Binotto clarified that the coronavirus pandemic and upcoming regulatory changes in F1 forced their hand to let go of Sebastian.
They have since gone in and immediately announced Carlos Sainz as a replacement for Vettel for 2021. Sainz will be partnering current Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
Jenson Button, the 2009 F1 World Champion, has spoken on the matter, and is clearly not impressed with Ferrari. He had on an earlier too expressed surprise at the decision to push out Vettel by Ferrari.
Was Sebastian Vettel pushed out by Ferrari?@JensonButton joins the #SkyF1Show to look at the situation
📺 Watch now on Sky Sports News pic.twitter.com/GFlBfRplAv
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 18, 2020
Jenson Button not happy with Ferrari’s excuse
He had this to say, speaking to Sky Sports F1. “It’s a very strange excuse, the pandemic, because he just cut him off and said ‘Your services are not needed next year’.
“This is a four-time world champion, and he has been winning races for Ferrari over the years. For me, he did a reasonably good job last year. He made some mistakes that a four-time world champion wouldn’t normally make.
“You could say he could have done a better job in certain places, but who knows. He is an extraordinarily good driver that made some mistakes that maybe he shouldn’t have made last year, but his team-mate also made some mistakes he shouldn’t have made last year.
“It just seems very strange to decide so early on, before the season has actually started they’re not going to have him in the car for 2021.”
Button is right in his assessment, and this could turn out to backfire on Ferrari. There are suggesting that Vettel may decide to ignore any team orders from Binotto this season.
Button feels the same. “It doesn’t help anyone making that decision now, it really doesn’t because Ferrari has got a whole year now with a driver that’s going to be out of the door at the end of the year.”
“He says he’s going to listen to team orders, which he might do, but when he comes to the last race and he’s leading, is he going to give it up? No.”
Incidentally, Sebastian Vettel finished ahead of teammate Leclerc yesterday in the Free Practise Session 2. It remains to be seen what happens with Ferrari at the qualifying sessions today.
