‘Arrivabene Was Still Team Principal’ – Marko Explains Reason behind Sebastian Vettel’s F1 Troubles

Sebastian Vettel moved to Ferrari from Red Bull in 2014 with four-world championship titles to his name. The German had always wanted to win a championship with the Maranello team. However, he failed to realize his target, and he moves to Aston Martin next season after an underwhelming 2020 season with Ferrari.

The Italian racing team was very competitive in 2017 and 2018. In 2017, Vettel finished in P2 with 317 points, just 46 points behind Hamilton. Sebastian Vettel was leading the championship in 2018 until a mistake at Hockenheim had his dream crumbling down.

Going into the German Grand Prix, Vettel was at the top of the championship standing. He led the race from pole position but crashed out under light rains as Hamilton drove to victory. After the race, the Mercedes driver replaced Vettel at the top of the championship and eventually won the season.

Helmut Marko believes that Vettel’s error at Hockenheim in 2018 had a lasting impact on him. According to him, the impact later carried over as Mattia Binotto replaced Ferrari’s then-principal Maurizio Arrivabene.

“I think it’s an insecurity that started in my eyes with the crash at Hockenheim in 2018, while leading.

“At that time Arrivabene was still team principal. From then on, the relationship with Ferrari has gone from bad to worse,” explained Marko.

ALSO READ – Ferrari: Sebastian Vettel Showed How to ‘Drive Large Teams Like Us’

Marko claims the driving has not been on Sebastian Vettel level since

Marko and Vettel won four championships together during their time at the Austrian team. The Red Bull Supremo knows the German quite well and believes that after losing the lead in Hockenheim that season, his confidence took a hit. According to Marko, Vettel has made far too many driving mistakes since then.

“With this crash, the uncertainty set in, and the driving was then very often not at a Vettel level,” he pointed out. However, Marko hopes that Vettel can make a comeback with Aston Martin next season.

“I hope so, for his sake,” concluded the Red Bull advisor.

After Ferrari announced Sainz for 2021, Vettel was linked with Red Bull; however, the Austrian team were committed to Albon at the moment. The German will join in the grid with Aston Martin next season and hope that he can regain his confidence and get back to his winning days.