Vettel Jokes, Hints at Ferrari Future

There's not a day that goes by without the media brining forward some hints that Sebastian Vettel will become a Ferrari-an some day. Be it statements made by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, Vettel's best known fan, or suggestions made by Ferrari's Luca di Montezemolo, they all lead to one projected future: Vettel wearing all-red overall sometime in the future.

And another (entertaining) hint was provided by Vettel himself this week, when interviewed by a reporter working for Italian television RAI.

At one point, the Italian reporter asked the reigning world champion a question, and the German answered normally. Shortly after, he was asked by the same reporter to repeat his answer, only this time in Italian.

“I'll speak Italian when I go to Ferrari,” smiled Vettel and left the conversation.

Speculation about Vettel's future with the Prancing Horse will certainly not end any time soon, but what's real is the fact that he still has an ongoing contract with Red Bull until the end of 2011. In addition, the Austrian squad has the first option for a contract extension until the end of 2012, but what they are really looking to secure through 2011 is a new 4-year deal with the 23-year old.

Also yesterday, Vettel met personally with Red Bull energy drink owner Dietrich Mateschitz inside the Valencia paddock. We don't know if this is the first of many meetings the two will have this year (discussing a potential new deal, that is), but it's certainly a good start.