FÓRMULA-1

McLaren boss predicts that Vettel will leave Formula 1

(Reuters) Daniel Ricciardo was McLaren's first choice to replace the Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who signed with Ferrari, and Sebastian Vettel was never in the sights, said this Friday the Chief Executive of the Formula 1 team, Zak Brown.
He predicts that Vettel, who will leave Ferrari at the end of 2020, will retire.
"Obviously Seb is an amazing driver and four-time champion," the American told Sky Sports television, adding that McLaren did not consider the German driver.
"We knew we would stay with Daniel or Carlos”" he said.
Ferrari reported on Tuesday that Vettel, who won all of his Red Bull titles between 2010 and 2013, will leave the team after six years.
Two days later, McLaren announced that Australian Ricciardo will join the team from 2021 coming from Renault with the move from Sainz to Maranello on a two-year contract to partner with Charles Leclerc.
Brown added that Vettel has limited options if he wants to continue.
"It doesn't seem like there's an opportunity for him at Mercedes or Red Bull, there's not at McLaren, at Ferrari, so the best in the sequence is Renault," he said.
"And the next question is: does Seb want to go to a team that probably won't win in 2021?”
"It's a great team and they should also go up on the grid, but I think only if Seb wants to restart a journey-so I think he'll probably end up leaving the sport, unfortunately."

Reporting by Alan Baldwin