Several media had reported on Monday morning that a deal between the two parties was imminent, with Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko telling reporters that discussions about Vettel's contract prolongation would only be a formality.
“It was in mutual agreement that we extended Sebastian's contract to 2014,” said Marko. “Both sides wanted to continue the partnership, so it was no big issue.”
Vettel first joined Red Bull at the end of the 2008 season, at the end of his first winning campaign in Formula 1 (he had made Scuderia Toro Rosso a race winner in the 2008 Italian Grand Prix, at Monza). His initial deal with RBR was to run out at the end of this season, with the Austrian team having an extra option to extend their stay until 2012.
Red Bull had initially aimed for an extension that would keep Vettel at Milton Keynes until 2015. However, it was only expected for such a deal to be reached sometime through the course of the upcoming F1 campaign, when Mark Webber's contract was also due to be discussed.
For the time being, Vettel is the only driver in the RBR lineup to have his future secured with the Austrian team, as Webber's contract expires at the end of 2011 and is yet to be discussed by the team. It is believed that Vettel's extension also coincides with a new deal reached by Red Bull with design guru Adrian Newey, therefore ensuring a winning package for the reigning world champion for future years.
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