Ferrari eyes Vettel
Even though the Austrian billionaire intends to sell his Red Bull stake in Gerhard Berger's team next year, Mateschitz rubbished speculation that the prized young German driver is also on the move.
He said there is no link between the rumors and the fact that Ferrari is Toro Rosso's engine supplier.
"First, we pay for our Ferrari engines," Mateschitz told the Swiss publication Motorsport Aktuell.
"Secondly, we did not want even Alonso if it is just for one year.
"We have supported (Vettel) for six or seven years, even when BMW temporarily borrowed him. I don't like to talk about contractual details.
"But one thing is clear: with Sebastian we have a long term contract."
It also emerged on the sidelines of the Malaysian grand prix at Sepang that, while Sebastien Bourdais signed a one-year Toro Rosso contract for 2008, Vettel's deal is solely with the energy drink Red Bull.
03/20/08 There are reports in Italy that Ferrari has signed Sebastian Vettel. These seem rather unlikely as Vettel's contractual situation is, at best, complicated and probably best described as convoluted, with BMW and Red Bull both having claims on the German rising star. It is unlikely that either company would sell these to Ferrari. In addition, Ferrari has both of its drivers under contract for at least two years and the two are doing a decent job at the moment, even if the change in management at Ferrari might bring new attitudes towards them. Grandprix.com
03/20/08 (GMM) Felipe Massa on Thursday hit out at rumors that Ferrari is looking to replace him for 2009 with rising German youngster Sebastian Vettel.
A correspondent for the Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport in Malaysia asked Massa, the 26-year-old Brazilian, if he had heard paddock gossip that his seat may be under threat beyond the end of this season.
Some other commentators suggest that the recent departure from Ferrari of Jean Todt weakens Massa's position at the team, as he is managed by the Frenchman's son Nicolas.
"I have a three year contract, so I am very comfortable in the team," he said at Sepang.
Massa explained that, even despite Ferrari's abysmal showing in Melbourne, featuring multiple driver errors, the Italian outfit is not responding by threatening the status of team members.
"So everybody is happy with the drivers, everybody is happy with the team itself and I have a three year contract if you don't remember," he added.
20-year-old Vettel, currently a driver for the Ferrari-powered Toro Rosso team, also would not be drawn on the rumors.
"I think Felipe was quite clear on what he said," the German responded in Malaysia.
03/18/08 Word is that Ferrari might like to use Vettel as early as this year should Massa or Raikkonen get injured.
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| Sebastian Vettel |
03/18/08 According to Italian magazine Autosprint, Ferrari has engaged in talks with Sebastian Vettel for 2009 deciding to sacrifice Felipe Massa, who has a 3-year contract until 2010. Vettel is very highly regarded and if the rumors are true that Red Bull may be selling the Toro Rosso team, the door may be open for the move. Ferrari already has some relationship with Vettel since Toro Rosso uses Ferrari engines.