Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel has revealed that Ferrari began contacting him whilst he was driving for Toro Rosso, following his maiden victory at the Italian Grand Prix.
The German, who up until this season had spent his entire career with backing from Red Bull, chose to jump ship to Ferrari at the end of last season after struggling to match team-mate Daniel Ricciardo.
However whilst he only made a firm decision last year, he had been discussing the move for several years before that.
“In the winter between 2012 and 2013 I went in secret to Maranello to talk with [then president Luca di] Montezemolo,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
But approaches had been made before then according to Vettel, who says he and former-Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali spoke on numerous occasions, beginning in 2008.
Following Domenicali’s departure, talks continued his replacement and finally he agreed to leave Red Bull for his “dream” team.
“By the middle of last year, Domenicali was gone but the contact continued with Marco Mattiacci and I spoke again with Montezemolo,” he added.
“The deal went ahead and I asked the opinion of Sabine Kehm, Michael Schumacher’s manager. Unfortunately I could not talk to Michael.”
But Vettel had confided in Schumacher, a good friend of his, some time before he made his decision.
“A while ago I told him about the possibility offered by Domenicali and he said that if I agreed I would find a nice atmosphere and a great enthusiasm in Maranello.”
