Vettel ponders his future as F1 'now more show than sport'

40

Sebastian Vettel knows where he wants to be next season, but the Ferrari driver won't commit to a future thereafter until he gets a clear picture of Formula 1's 2021 regulations.

Vettel is contracted to the Scuderia until the end of 2020, and while he's happy where he currently is in his motorsport life, the German has questions about the future and the direction of Grand Prix racing.

"I’m certain I really want to drive this year and next year, then I don’t know what happens to the regulations," Vettel said in an interview with The Times.

“Nobody knows so far. I certainly can’t sit here and say, ‘No [I won’t leave]’ just for the sake of being in Formula 1."

'Humiliated' Vettel gets an earfull from Italian media

The four-time world champion laments Formula 1's recent evolution and the fact that business now outweighs sporting considerations.

"A lot of the values that used to be around, they are only partly around," he added.

"Formula 1 is now more a show and a business than a sport.

"You can say the same probably for other sports, but maybe in other sports it doesn’t filter down as much to the actual athlete as much as it does here."

Vettel believes Formula 1 needs to offer more clarity on what it ambitions to be

"There just needs to be [a decision about] what we want," said the 31-year-old driver.

"If we say we are a show, then bring on the show. I feel we are wasting so much time and energy with regulations that are just expensive really for nothing."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.