German will "react badly" to Maurizio Arrivabene's interview, says Brundle; Vettel's current Ferrari deal expires at end of 2017
Thursday 20 October 2016 18:27, UK
Sebastian Vettel has "lost his mojo" and may not remain in Formula 1 in the long term, according to Sky F1's Martin Brundle.
The four-time world champion has endured a frustrating two years since swapping Red Bull for Ferrari and, without a victory in 2016, his season has also been marred by mistakes and collisions.
Vettel has been told he has to "earn" a new Ferrari contract and to focus on driving by Maurizio Arrivabene, with the Scuderia boss telling Italy's Sky F1 that "times have changed" since Michael Schumacher's spectacular spell.
Arrivabene: Vettel must 'earn' new Ferrari deal
And Brundle doubts Vettel, who has only won three races since his last title in 2013 and starts seventh at this weekend's Japanese GP due to a three-place grid penalty, will find his stunning Red Bull form again.
"I'm beginning to think Sebastian Vettel won't be in Formula 1 for the long haul," suggested Brundle. "He came so young, he broke so many records. I just watch him at work and he's lost his mojo."
Vettel's current Ferrari contract expires at the end of next season, with an extension prepared but by no means signed, and Arrivabene hinted Ferrari will not be focusing on any renewal until 2017.
"That was a choreographed interview, for a purpose, and the words were extremely strong there," Brundle said of Arrivabene's comments. "I imagine Vettel will react to that very badly. I think what they are trying to tell him is, you drive the car and we'll sort the team out."
Vettel's latest struggles were summed up by his first-corner crash in Malaysia last week, with the Italian media claiming the 29-year-old was 'in crisis'. Vettel has scored just 57 points since July's Austrian GP, compared to team-mate Kimi Raikkonen's 79.
There have also been suggestions that the German is trying too hard to replicate Schumacher's dynamic, when his countryman immersed himself in all things Ferrari both on and off the track and motivated the team.
Vettel claimed he had not seen his team boss's remarks when asked by the media after qualifying in Japan, but insisted "I know that there's nothing between us to sort out. We are trying to achieve the same thing".
He accepted he had not been at his best at times in 2016, but stressed his sole aim was to help Ferrari move forwards.
"We enjoy a very, very straightforward and honest relationship," he said. "As much as the team want to perform, I want to perform. I've had races this year where I didn't do so, I wasn't happy with myself because there was more on the table. It's been an up and down year but in the end I think the results we've had is fair and worthy given the pace that we've shown on different weekends.
"The main focus now is not looking at that too much [a new contract, the main focus as a team is to try and make progress until the end of this year and obviously we carry everything we learnt this year into next year."
