Sebastian Vettel will go into the 2019 season with a lot of uncertain parameters surrounding him and his career at Ferrari.
After a gap of many seasons, Ferrari had built a competitive car, one that was able to take the attack to Mercedes and keep them humble all through the year.
However, mistakes on part of Vettel and the team meant that Ferrari couldn’t muster a strong enough challenge during the final stages of the championship, as their quest for glory fell off.
On Turrini‘s blog:
Giancarlo Minardi: "Saving the "soldier" Vettel is a requirement for everyone. I think Seb is the first to know he has not experienced the best season. Ferrari needs a top German at Ferrari."#F1 #Seb5
— tami. (@Vetteleclerc) December 11, 2018
Now, Vettel goes into the 2019 season, with the baggage of all those mistakes made in 2018. Along with that pressure, he also has unfamiliar surroundings around him, as Leclerc has replaced Kimi as his teammate.
Kimi and Seb shared a wonderful relationship with each other, one where they appeared to be in sync with each others ideas on and off the track.
According to reports, Seb wanted Kimi to stay on for another season, but the Ferrari management had decided that it was time Leclerc took that giant leap of faith into F1’s elite.
Now, while Kimi and Seb shared a harmonious relationship, one doesn’t know what to expect from the Seb-Leclerc relationship from 2019 onwards.
Teammates have had their tussles in F1 in the past, with the Alonso-Hamilton and Senna-Prost battle ranking amongst the most high profile ones.
A lot has been said and reported about how Vettel would cope with the challenge of Leclerc next season, especially because of how fast and talented Leclerc is.
The German finally spoke about the upcoming season and his partnership with Leclerc. He spoke about how the relationship between himself and Kimi was free of unnecessary politics, but how that might not be the case with Leclerc and himself next year.
“I do not know that yet,” Vettel said while speaking about if Leclerc and himself would have a harmonious relationship.
“The harmony between me and Kimi meant that there were not unnecessary politics. We have always left each other the necessary space – and thus not give the team unnecessary worries.
“Everyone is different, and how Charles and I will tick together will become apparent. But he is a well-bred boy – and Ferrari is a huge chance for him. The Basic Law will not change this time either: everyone wants to beat each other.” he concluded.
