Piero Ferrari: Vettel and Ferrari 'no longer lived well together'

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Ferrari vice-chairman Piero Ferrari has questioned whether Sebastian Vettel and the Scuderia really understood each other.

Vettel's departure from Maranello at the end of the year was unexpectedly announced this week and represented the first domino to fall in the ebullient drivers' market.

Since, Ferrari has announced the arrival of McLaren's Carlos Sainz for 2021 while Renault's Daniel Ricciardo will replace the Spaniard at the Woking-based outfit.

Speaking to Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport, Piero Ferrari took stock of Vettel's time at the Scuderia during which too many mistakes and missed opportunities from both team and driver undermined the pair's quest for the world championship.

"It’s a beautiful story that could have been much more beautiful," Ferrari said.

"We have reached the end of the relationship with Vettel for various reasons, both for him and the team.

"We no longer live well together, and we will separate. It is like a marriage that is coming to an end."

The 74-year-old son of Enzo Ferrari remained mum on the "various reasons" that led to the split and elegantly refused to apportion blame.

"It is not a question of having the best driver or the best car," he added.

"I often had great confidence and esteem for Seb because he has done great races, but I don’t know if he did not understand the car or we did not understand him.

"Things like this can happen, it is not the time to give responsibility to anyone."

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