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Red Bull dismisses Vettel to Ferrari talk

ESPNF1 Staff
January 10, 2011 « Red Bull 'going to the limit' to get car to first test | »
Sebastian Vettel and Helmut Marko are very close in the Red Bull team © Getty Images
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Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko believes Sebastian Vettel would be "stupid" to consider switching to Ferrari any time soon.

The 2010 champion recently said that he would like to drive for another big team later in his career, although he is currently tied to Red Bull until 2013.

"No question, it is my wish and goal to drive for Ferrari one day ... or Mercedes, another legendary brand," Vettel said in November. "But right now I'm happy. I have two more years of contract with Red Bull and we have big plans."

Marko is confident Vettel, who he mentored through the Red Bull driver development programme, will not go to Ferrari as long as double world champion Fernando Alonso is at the team.

"Sebastian won't leave us just because of the Ferrari legend," he insisted. "He is smart enough to know that the time would have to be right for him. He would have to be stupid to go there with Fernando Alonso."

Marko is sure any decision Vettel makes will be based on car performance, something he is confident Red Bull will have the upper-hand in.

"We are the world championship team, and as long as we offer Sebastian a package that is better than the others, he's not going to leave just because of a mythical history."

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