'Vettel must earn his place at Ferrari' says Arrivabene

Four-time Formula One world champion Vettel made a high-profile switch to Ferrari ahead of the 2015 season and finished third in the drivers' standings in his first campaign with the team.

Published : Oct 08, 2016 17:38 IST

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel
Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel
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Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel

Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene has said Sebastian Vettel will need to earn his seat at the team for 2018 and beyond.

Four-time Formula One world champion Vettel made a high-profile switch to Ferrari ahead of the 2015 season and finished third in the drivers' standings in his first campaign with the team.

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Yet having dominated team-mate Kimi Raikkonen last term, Vettel finds himself behind the Finn — and Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo — in this year's championship.

In a lengthy interview with Sky Sport Italia , Arrivabene touched on the future of Vettel, who has been criticised in the Italian media following his involvement in a first-corner crash at last week's Malaysian Grand Prix.

"Sebastian now has a contract with us. We work together this year and again next year. Then during the next season we'll see," said Arrivabene.

"Each of us has goals, I have them, the team has them, Sebastian has them, we all have them. So it is only right that anyone, no matter who it is, earns their place and their salary," he said.

Vettel will start seventh in Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix. The German qualified fourth, behind Raikkonen, but will drop three places due to a penalty imposed on him as a result of his collision at Sepang.

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