[NeilP]

This is one very likable guy. I have always rated him as a driver but even I had started to question his credentials in the last few years. I feel I am wrong to do so. His era at Red Bull was sensational and he was a dominant driver in a fairly dominant car (Lets not get into that too much). I think it is fair to say many thought his move to Ferrari from Red Bull would lead to the prancing horse winning championships and maybe the last two seasons it should have. It has not.

Vettels driving is now error strewn with desperation, poor judgement, unreasonable self expectation and I feel a certain amount of embarrassment.  What I found slightly amusing about his latest incident was listening to the onboards of himself and Verstappen.  Max " Is my car okay, what was he thinking?"   Vettel "What was he doing" I mean come on Sebastian.  What to me was even more telling was Lambiasi (I love his voice and humour) was immediately in touch but Vettels engineer (whose name escapes me) was totally silent.

So the question is what lies ahead for Vettel? He has a contract with Ferrari for next season and its not like he has become Pastor Maldonado overnight. I think it is up in the air. If he does not get better for him during the rest of the season Ferrari may have to make an awkward decision.  I feel they may get around it by giving both drivers equal status for his last year. Either way I cannot see him at Ferrari in 2021.

So, if not Ferrari, where next or maybe that should be what next.  He will be 33 after next season, hardly old but maybe similar although different circumstances to Alonso many doors will be closed to him. I certainly dont see him racing an uncompetitive car. There is no way he is moving to Mercedes or Red Bull. Maybe his best option would be Renault trying to reestablish to glory days of his 4 world Championships. Beyond that its hard to see where else he could fit in.

I feel for him, I really do. His career is finishing in an ugly fashion and will in the short term at least overshadow his achievements in the sport. I wish we knew what has changed with him. His confidence is shot and that is massive in all areas of sport and indeed life. I am hoping we can see a change because what he is doing now is so far beneath his previous abilities it is fast becoming an unrecoverable position.