After yesterday posting the breaking news on Alonso, the F1 driver market has this morning been rocked by the sudden announcement earlier that Sebastien Vettel will leave Red Bull at the end of this season, likely moving to Ferrari for next year. Red Bull immediately announced impressive rookie Daniil Kvyat will replace him at Red Bull next year.
With all the rumours surrounding Alonso leaving Ferrari it now seems they have the perfect replacement for Vettel. who has grown frustrated by his form this year as he has struggled so far to get the best from his Red Bull RB10.
Vettel has a year left to run on his contract but activated his break clause, leaving him free to likely replace Alonso at Ferrari. A statement from Red Bull announced "Sebastian Vettel has advised us that he will be leaving Red Bull at the end of the 2014 season. We want to warmly thank Sebastian for the incredible role he has played at Red Bull for the last six years."
Vettel only announced his intentions to leave to the Red Bull team on Friday night at this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, with Christian Horner giving his thoughts on the matter "I obviously know him very well, we spend a lot of time together and you can see that he has had a bit on his mind recently, Inevitably a decision like this you don't take lightly but it was last night he sat down with us and informed us. So all I can do is wish him the very, very best for the future. He will still be close to our hearts at Red Bull, but on January 1 he will be a competitor."
Horner later went on to pretty much confirm that Vettel will join Ferrari next year and claimed to understand Vettel's motivation for a move after spending the majority of his F1 career with Red Bull.
The promotion of the very impressive rookie Daniil Kvyat to the Red Bull team for next year was simultaneously announced with the Vettel statement, with this latest news leaving a space open at the junior Scuderia Toro Rosso team. This seat has a few candidates but it seems likely after his snub earlier this season Carlos Sainz Jr will partner Max Verstappen next year at Scuderia Toro Rosso.
After this shocking development in the F1 driver market, what are your thoughts on this move or the potential for other moves for next year?
Written by @Jordan Wilkins and @Ole Marius Myrvold