Vettel, who initially raced for the Faenza-based team when it was identified as Toro Rosso, moved to Red Bull where he secured four world championships before transitioning to Ferrari.
Maintaining a cordial relationship with the Milton Keynes-based team and its manager Christian Horner, Vettel shared his sentiments.
During a Goodwood interview with ITV on Saturday, Vettel showed delight at the return of his former colleague, Daniel Ricciardo, to the grid. However, he acknowledged the unfortunate turn of events for De Vries.
When questioned about his opinions on the AlphaTauri updates, Vettel said, “My feelings are mixed.
“I’m extremely pleased for Daniel, really. I respect him, having raced alongside him, and I encountered him at the test while I was preparing the [1993] McLaren for this weekend. I’m immensely delighted for him.
“On the flip side, honesty demands admitting it’s a letdown for Nyck, considering how it culminated. I believe he had a promising opportunity.
“Possibly things didn’t pan out for him as anticipated, or as others had expected. But it’s slightly severe when it concludes in such a sudden halt. It’s unforgiving.”
Sebastian Vettel, Team Germany
Photo by: Jerry Andre / F1 Flow Images
Vettel expressed hope that De Vries’s exit from AlphaTauri wouldn’t negatively impact his long-term prospects.
“I met him for the first time last year and he struck me as an exceptional individual, and he’s a skilled driver,” the German stated.
“He has claimed the F2 championship, he has won international titles. He’s well acclaimed and I trust that this setback doesn’t tarnish his career. People tend to do that, and it’s not fair.
“Perhaps those 10 races didn’t turn out as well as they might have. Firstly, we don’t know why, as outsiders, and secondly, he’s still a proficient driver.
“So I also empathize with the fact that it’s extremely harsh for him, and I hope that people don’t notice that setback.”
In the meantime, Mark Webber, Vettel’s former co-driver, said he had previously counseled Ricciardo not to depart from the Red Bull team at the close of 2018, and warned that his fellow Australian needs to quickly acclimate to his new AlphaTauri team-mate, Yuki Tsunoda.
“I was advocating for him to remain in Red Bull, he was well aware that I tried to persuade him to stay all those years ago,” Webber told ITV.
“But evidently he was eager to switch to Renault at that point, then he moved to McLaren, took a year off, and now he’s returned.
“The stopwatch never deceives, you’re either applying pressure or succumbing to it. Now he’s back on the grid and undoubtedly he has to quickly match up against Yuki, and hopefully, he can perform impressively.”
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Sebastian Vettel
Who was sacked from the F1 team, according to Sebastian Vettel’s statement?
Nyck de Vries was dismissed from the AlphaTauri F1 team, a decision which Sebastian Vettel called “harsh” and “unforgiving”.
Which team did Vettel previously race for?
Vettel previously raced for the Faenza-based team when it was named Toro Rosso. He then moved to Red Bull, where he won four world championships, before transitioning to Ferrari.
What is Vettel’s opinion about Daniel Ricciardo’s return to the grid?
Vettel is extremely pleased for Daniel Ricciardo’s return to the grid. Having raced with him in the past, Vettel showed delight during his interview.
What does Vettel hope for Nyck de Vries after his sacking?
Vettel hopes that De Vries’ sudden dismissal from the AlphaTauri F1 team does not negatively affect his long-term career prospects. He described the situation as a setback, but he acknowledged De Vries as a skilled driver.
What did Mark Webber say about Ricciardo’s decision to leave Red Bull in 2018?
Mark Webber, Vettel’s former co-driver, advised Ricciardo not to leave the Red Bull team at the end of 2018. Webber also warned that Ricciardo will need to quickly adjust to his new AlphaTauri team-mate, Yuki Tsunoda, upon his return.
More about Sebastian Vettel
- Sebastian Vettel’s F1 Career
- Nyck de Vries’ Professional Profile
- Daniel Ricciardo’s Career Journey
- Mark Webber’s Insights on F1
- AlphaTauri in Formula 1
- Red Bull Racing Team
6 comments
Well, that’s F1 for you. As Vettel said it’s brutal, but that’s how the sport goes sometimes.
i mean vettel’s not wrong is he. its tough but F1’s always been like that. feel for de vries tho, hope he gets another shot.
Can’t wait to see Ricciardo back on the grid! Still, sacking De Vries so suddenly, doesn’t seem right.
i’m with vettel on this, De Vries deserved more of a chance. but excited to see Ricciardo back in action, gonna be interesting season
Dang, feel bad for de Vries, man. Vettel’s right, it’s pretty brutal. Here’s hoping he lands on his feet, you know?
Mark Webber’s comment is spot on. Ricciardo needs to step up against Tsunoda ASAP. no time to waste in F1.