Under the circumstances, the Milton Keynes team seems determined to keep “Baby Schumacher” at Red Bull at any price. The German driver has so far taken both Red Bull-backed teams to victory during the last 2 seasons – Toro Rosso at Monza last year and RBR at Shanghai in 2009 – and his youth recommends him for the leading role withing RBR.
While confirming his deal is to expire at the end of 2010, RBR manager Christian Horner insisted there are a number of clauses that give his team the upper hand in extending that contract further on. In addition, the youngest of the F1 managers confirmed his team is looking to expand its operation in the Great Circle and Vettel is just the driver one can built a team around.
“Sebastian feels comfortable with us. If we give him cars with which he can drive at the front, there will be no reason for him to move. We see our future with Sebastian. We want to strengthen and expand our team around him,” Horner was quoted as saying by German newspaper Sport Bild.
BMW Sauber have also expressed their interest in re-signing the German driver, but Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz' answer left no room for interpretation. According to the Austrian billionaire, Vettel is currently not for sale, especially since BMW's links with the German driver ended the very day they've decided to let him go to Toro Rosso.
As far as the driver is concerned, it seems the German is fancying a future Ferrari move, as confirmed by Vettel himself before the start of this season. This also seems to be the desire of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who publicly announced he wants the “next Schu” to compete for the prancing horse in the near future.
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