Vettel turns down $120m??

[Scott]

I kinda don't blame him.  Ferrari have only shown him at best luke warm support when everything is going well, and harsh words and threats when it is not.  Alonso is getting something like $40m at Honda, so I'm sure Vettel could get Merc to pay him that next year, especially if he gives their boy a run for the WDC all year long.  Keep your options open.

https://thejudge13.com/2017/08/07/vettel-rejects-e120-million-at-ferrari-in-favour-of-1-year-deal-tj13-f1-roundup/

[Jericoke]

I would imagine at this point in their careers, for drivers like Vettel and Alonso, the payment in and of itself is immaterial.  If they never made another dollar (or euro or pound), they'd be comfortable for life.  It would be a matter of 'respect'.  A driver of their stature would 'deserve' a certain pay day.

Kudos to Vettel for looking for a good car to drive instead of 'respect'.

Also a good demonstration of how messed up the economics of F1 are if Sauber is scrambling for pay drivers, and Ferrari is willing to spend triple their budget on a single employee.

[Ian]

'Good car' Jeri, the Ferrari's seem to be doing pretty good to me.

[cosworth151]

Also a good demonstration of how messed up the economics of F1 are if Sauber is scrambling for pay drivers, and Ferrari is willing to spend triple their budget on a single employee.

"Them that's got shall get. Them that's not shall lose. So the Bible said and it still is news." - Billie Holliday, 1939.

[Jericoke]

'Good car' Jeri, the Ferrari's seem to be doing pretty good to me.

Sure, today, but next year?  2020?  Why lock in to drive a car when the regulations for it haven't even been written?

[Scott]

I'm a bit skeptical that any current F1 driver has the technical wherewithal, nor the access in the future design department to figure out what is coming down the pipeline for any particular team, even the one they are currently in.  You have Hamilton who has lucked out on his moves and Alonso who has completely blown his moves. 

Money may not be the point as you say Jeri, but I think an F1 driver looks for a team who can pay the bills (not just his, but actually back a race winning design) and the one who shows the love for him.  Ferrari is good on the first, but has shown to be somewhat fickle on the latter.

[Jericoke]

I'm a bit skeptical that any current F1 driver has the technical wherewithal, nor the access in the future design department to figure out what is coming down the pipeline for any particular team, even the one they are currently in.  You have Hamilton who has lucked out on his moves and Alonso who has completely blown his moves. 

Money may not be the point as you say Jeri, but I think an F1 driver looks for a team who can pay the bills (not just his, but actually back a race winning design) and the one who shows the love for him.  Ferrari is good on the first, but has shown to be somewhat fickle on the latter.

Vettel has been quite famous for becoming very close with his teammates (the 'technical' staff, not Kimi).  Driving an Adrian Newey car was a specific goal he had (and accomplished), so I'm sure who will be designing his car is something that he cares about more than most fans will even consider.  A new design team could crop up anywhere, and he'd like to keep his options open.

I do think that the greatest unfulfilled dream of many F1 drivers is to build a team from scratch.  Jacques Villeneuve tried and, well the team didn't fail, but he wasn't central to their success.  There is talk of new players with the new engine formula.  Since Alonso's efforts with Honda have been about as fruitful as Villeneuve with BAR, there is still room in F1 to be the champion who builds a winning team. I have zero information to suggest that Vettel hopes to do this, however if he's locked in at Ferrari (or anywhere else) for the rest of his career, then there's no new team Vettel he can be a part of.