The Race's new F1 Rewind podcast unpacks the chaotic 2014 Vettel-to-Ferrari deal, and the timeline rewrites the conventional wisdom. Red Bull announced Vettel's exit at Suzuka in October 2014 — seven weeks before Ferrari said a word. The move blindsided Alonso and his manager Flavio Briatore, who were mid-negotiation on a contract extension. But the real kicker: Vettel and Luca di Montezemolo had been plotting this since 2013, before the season Ricciardo embarrassed him even started. Michael Schumacher brokered it, telling di Montezemolo that Vettel was the driver to build around — the heir to the Schumacher-era dynasty. Di Montezemolo was done with Alonso's my-wins-their-losses shtick and wanted someone who'd bleed Ferrari red. Schumacher's December 2013 skiing accident happened after the groundwork was laid, but the fix was already in. Vettel wasn't fleeing Ricciardo; he was chasing Maranello long before the wheels came off.
Read the full story at The RaceSCHUMACHER HELP + ALONSO BLINDSIDED: WHEN FERRARI SIGNED VETTEL
The Race's new F1 Rewind podcast unpacks the chaotic 2014 Vettel-to-Ferrari deal, and the timeline rewrites the conventional wisdom. Red Bull announced Vettel's exit at Suzuka in October 2014 — seven weeks before Ferrari said a word. The move blindsided Alonso and his manager Flavio Briatore, who were mid-negotiation on a contract extension. But the real kicker: Vettel and Luca di Montezemolo had been plotting this since 2013, before the season Ricciardo embarrassed him even started. Michael Schumacher brokered it, telling di Montezemolo that Vettel was the driver to build around — the heir to the Schumacher-era dynasty. Di Montezemolo was done with Alonso's my-wins-their-losses shtick and wanted someone who'd bleed Ferrari red. Schumacher's December 2013 skiing accident happened after the groundwork was laid, but the fix was already in. Vettel wasn't fleeing Ricciardo; he was chasing Maranello long before the wheels came off.
