Sebastian Vettel leaves Red Bull, Horner says 'Ferrari have made him an attractive offer'

Red Bull Racing have confirmed that four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will quit the team at the end of the season, with team principal Christian Horner admitting that "Ferrari have made him a very attractive offer". Daniil Kvyat will step up after just one season with Toro Rosso to partner Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull for 2015.

A team statement issued on Saturday morning in Suzuka read: “Sebastian Vettel has advised us that he will be leaving Infiniti Red Bull Racing at the end of the 2014 season. We’re pleased to announce that Daniel (Ricciardo) will be joined in the team for 2015 by another rising star from the Junior Programme, Daniil Kvyat.”

Vettel said that he just needed a change of air and a fresh challenge after six seasons with the same team. No doubt the opportunity to reach a much larger audience and to associate his personal brand with the Prancing Horse of Ferrari, the most famous glamourous in the automotive world, was a big part of the motive.

"It is not the first time I have been approached but it felt like the right time," said Vettel. "I'm not leaving because I don't like the team or individuals, I'm not running away from anything. The voice inside me, the hunger to do something new was bigger. It was not the easiest decision but you have to listen to your heart."

Vettel refused to confirm it, but he has been heavily linked with a move to Ferrari for some time, with suggestions that he had an agreement in place to join the Scuderia if and when he left Red Bull. Fernando Alonso said that his decision process has created this opening for Vettel and most people expect that he will now confirm a move to McLaren-Honda.

As for Vettel, even if he couldn't confirm his Ferrari deal, this morning his current boss Christian Horner appeared to confirm Maranello as Vettel's next destination.

Horner said that "Ferrari have made him a very attractive offer".

Pressed to confirm that the four-time champion will be moving to the Italian marque, Horner responded: "Well, he's not going to Caterham."

The team boss also revealed that Vettel had only informed him of his intention to quit the team last night.

"It was a pretty busy evening," he said. "And obviously it was pretty emotional. We've had five fantastic years and won eight world championships together.

"Sebastian has thought long and and hard about this and decided that the time is right for him to take on a new challenge. If someone's heart is not 100 per cent in his workplace then it would be wrong to force them to stay. We have therefore decided that Daniil Kvyat is the best option for us. He is an exciting new talent."

Team-mate Daniel Ricciardo said the news had come as a surprise: "I didn’t know before this morning; it’s two pretty big changes for the team, Sebastian leaving and Daniil coming in, but Seb’s done his work here at Red Bull and he feels it’s time to move on. I’m glad I got one year to race with him and see how he works, I heard a lot about his work ethic before the season and it was good to see that this year and to go against him. Daniil’s coming in and I expect him to be quick – I know him pretty well and it should be good fun working with him."

As for Vettel himself, the defending champion said: “Red Bull and I have had an incredible run together. I’m leaving a very happy place and of course it’s difficult but at some point you want to do something different. We had a good time and I hope we have a good final five races.

"I’m not leaving because I don’t like the team nor because I don’t like individuals nor the situation, I’m not running away from anything – it felt like the right time and the voice inside me and hunger to do something new was bigger," he added. "So, even though it’s not the easiest decision to live with, you have to listen to your heart and go in your direction. I feel ready and the time is right to start something new. It’s a very difficult decision after 15 years together with Red Bull, it’s a tough day.”