It was a close call: Vettel would almost have been a Honda driver

Sebastian Vettel became world champion with Red Bull Racing. It now appears that the German's career could have turned out differently if a now defunct team had been slightly faster in 2007, reports Bild. 

Otmar Szafnauer, now team principal of Alpine, was at the helm of the Honda F1 team many years ago. At one point, the still young Vettel reported to the American. He said to Szafnauer: "I will soon have two weeks without a contract with Red Bull or BMW. Are you interested in signing me? "

Two weeks time

Szafnauer rushed to Gil de Ferran, then Honda's sporting director, and told him that the Japanese had two weeks to secure Vettel. But before Honda could finally commit Vettel, Vettel decided to opt for Toro Rosso - and thus Red Bull - after all. The rest is history.

Szafnauer and Vettel eventually worked together after all. In 2020, the American made it to Aston Martin, the team he was still managing. "I called him (after announcing his retirement) and wished him all the best for the future. When you get to know him as a person, he is a great person, with a big heart."