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Vettel flattered by Ferrari comments

ESPN Staff
June 22, 2012 « Bid for London GP in Olympic Park | Frustrated Webber struggling with long run pace »
Sebastian Vettel insists he is happy at Red Bull despite the comments from Ferrari © Sutton Images
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Sebastian Vettel admitted that he is flattered by comments from Ferrari and Fernando Alonso that the two of them could drive together.

Stefano Domenicali said that he believed Vettel and Alonso could "coexist" at Ferrari, while Alonso added that he would have "no problem" having Vettel as a team-mate after admitting that he has a say in the identity of Ferrari's other driver. With rumours building that Vettel could switch teams in 2014, he insisted that he is happy with Red Bull but had liked hearing the comments.

"I'm very happy where I am at the moment," Vettel said. "I'm flattered obviously, I've always said that Ferrari is a great team with a great history, a great tradition in Formula One in particular. But as I said I'm very happy where I am at the moment.

"As I said I'm flattered; it's very nice to hear that. I respect Ferrari a lot, I respect Fernando a lot so I see it as a compliment if they take that in to account, but for now as you asked does it unsettle me? No, and for now the focus for now is entirely on this season. I think if you want to have a word in this year's championship, you're much better off having all the focus on this year. As we've seen it's extremely tight - a lot of races, a lot of winners so far - so I think I need all of the focus on this year."

When asked if there was a serious interest from Ferrari, McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said that the comments should not be read in to too much.

"I think there's a little bit [of interest]," Whitmarsh told Sky Sports. "I think also, people ask you questions and if you continually stonewall them it makes a fairly uninteresting interview doesn't it?! So you're asked 'Would you consider Sebastian Vettel?' Well, Sebastian Vettel is a great racing driver so most team principals would consider him. That becomes extrapolated in to 'Ferrari on the hunt for Sebastian' - I think the reality is that there's no substance to it but people like to have these sorts of discussions."

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