Barretto predicts Vettel to finish fifth in 2020

Formula 1 house journalist Lawrence Barretto has made five bold predictions ahead of the 2021 F1 season. His most bold prediction, is that Sebastian Vettel will claim fifth place in the championship behind Mercedes and Red Bull Racing.

Most bold Prediction

Sebastian Vettel is quadruple world champion and statistically the second best driver on the grid. Only Lewis Hamilton is above him. At Ferrari, the German didn't add too much to his tallies but in 2021 he will join the ambitious Aston Martin.

According to Barretto, Vettel can dominate the rest of the field there, except for the drivers of Red Bull and Mercedes. On Formula1.com he wrote: "This is perhaps my boldest prediction, given the four-time champion had such a difficult final campaign with Ferrari last year as he suffered the most disappointing campaign of his long and illustrious career."

Aston Martin gives Vettel a new chance

Vettel lost confidence due to the progression of Charles Leclerc next to him and he had a very difficult time with the Ferrari car in 2020. Barretto: "But Aston Martin offers him the chance of a rebirth. They will herald him as their leader, put their arm around him, and listen to his wealth of experience."

Barretto believes the team's confidence in Vettel will help the ex-Ferrari driver recover: "We saw a big bounce in Vettel’s form when he landed at Ferrari, having been beaten by Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull as defending champion, and I expect this move – which will involve him resurrecting a famous marque – to have a similar effect, leading to him finishing fifth in the standings behind the Mercedes and Red Bull drivers."