World champion Sebastian Vettel has committed his future to Red Bull Racing after inking a three-year contract extension.
German ends speculation over future by signing until 2014
World champion Sebastian Vettel has committed his future to Red Bull Racing after inking a three-year contract extension.
Vettel's previous deal lasted until the end of the 2012 campaign, but the 23-year-old has added another two years on the new contract and will remain with the team until 2014.
Red Bull have been determined to tie down the German racer, who has been strongly linked with moves to both Ferrari and Mercedes.
But their hopes of landing the former BMW Sauber and Toro Rosso driver have been dashed after a deal was announced on Monday morning.
Red Bull consultant Dr Helmut Marko told the Austrian newspaper
Salzburger Nachtrichten: "It was the desire of both sides. It was agreed quickly."
Speculation
The move ends speculation that Vettel could move to Ferrari in 2013, when the contracts of current drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa expire.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner later said the move was a "logical extension" and also sent out a clear message to rivals ahead of the new season, which starts in Australia next week.
"I'm sure he had loads of approaches and enquiries but he didn't take any of them seriously," Horner said.
"I think any team that is serious to be honest (was interested).
"That was one of the reasons we were keen to get this finalised and announced before the start of the year, to avoid speculation. His future is with Red Bull for the foreseeable future."
The team further announced on Monday that designer Adrian Newey has also signed a new contract and, like Vettel, will stay put until 2014.
Newey, who also designed championship-winning cars for both Williams and McLaren, has been an instrumental part in Red Bull's rise to prominence since he joined them five years ago.
"I think a contract with Adrian is largely irrelevant - I don't think he's actually read one yet!" joked Horner.
"But it's down to feeling comfortable, happy and content with where he is working, and he and I enjoy a very good working relationship.
"We've worked closely together to get the team where it currently is. He is enjoying his racing again, enjoying Formula One.
Commitment
"It is a big commitment, but there are no signs of his passion and enthusiasm for the sport waning. Hopefully that can go on for many years, even beyond what a piece of paper says.
"Hopefully Red Bull will be the last team he works for in Formula One."
The contract of Vettel's team-mate, Mark Webber, runs out at the end of the season but it is believed Red Bull are keen to keep the Australian on if he wants to stay, although the 34-year-old remains tight lipped about his future.
Vettel clinched the championship at the last race of the season in 2010, when a strategic error by Ferrari left points leader Alonso stranded down the field.
The German romped to victory while Alonso could finish only seventh and the Red Bull driver leapfrogged the Spaniard to win the title by four points.
Vettel heads to the first race in Melbourne on March 27 as favourite after his Newey-designed Red Bull RB7 looked the class of the field in pre-season testing, with Ferrari again its closest rival.
