Contract for Vettel no certainty: ''Sainz and Ricciardo are ramming on the door''

While Lewis Hamilton is now expected to extend his contract with Mercedes, there are some question marks around Sebastian Vettel. Will the German stay at Ferrari after 2020?

Vettel in a corner

According to La Gazetta dello Sport, Vettel would have been offered a one-year deal for the same salary as teammate Charles Leclerc. As a result, Vettel will have to hand in about 20 million dollars and according to the Italian magazine has turned down the first offer. However, the question is whether Vettel has a choice?

''I think he'll sign for 2021. The pressure is now off his shoulders due to the delay and therefore he is less in the spotlight. For 2022 I'm less sure though, because Daniel Ricciardo and Carlos Sainz will be banging on the door, because regardless of the rule changes Ferrari will remain a top team'', says Karun Chandhok in the Sky Sports show.

Leclerc is the star

So for Vettel there is work to be done and little to negotiate. ''Vettel really has to go to work and will also have to hand in a lot of money. With Leclerc, Ferrari already has a future star in its hands, so they don't have to pay Vettel that much at all now'', concludes the former Formula 1 driver.

However, for the time being there is also a question mark behind 2021, as long as Vettel hasn't signed up yet. Sainz and Ricciardo are indeed big contenders and certainly the Spaniard seems to be a solid option alongside Leclerc. Ricciardo could then make the switch to McLaren, but it remains to be seen whether Vettel will still have a seat in Formula 1.