Mark Webber shares his thoughts on Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari parting ways. Mark Webber on Seb and Ferrari parting ways.

Scuderia Ferrari German driver Sebastian Vettel has been worn out by his “marriage” with the Italian side and is the reason why he is leaving the Formula 1 team at the end of this year, according to former team-mate Mark Webber.

Webber and Vettel spent five seasons together at Red Bull, with their relationship ultimately fracturing towards the end, leading to the Australian quitting F1 at the end of 2013.

Seven years later, Sebastian Vettel may be on the brink of following Webber out of the sport as he and Ferrari have opted to part ways at the end of this season, ending what will be a six-year association.

Webber was typically candid in his view that Vettel’s relationship with Ferrari had had a detrimental effect on the German driver.

“As we all know in Formula 1 there are always two cars in a team,” said Webber, speaking on the ‘At The Controls’ podcast – “Yes, Sebastian has sort of done his best with what he could to set the team up and have it in a position to win a world championship in the last few years – hasn’t happened. So I think his confidence has been very much rattled with the lack of penetration that he was able to have with the Italian culture. That’s a big thing.

So that marriage I just think really wore him out. You can see he doesn’t look his age right now, I’ve told him that several times.

“But he’s had a good run at it, a hard run at it, but I think he’s just worn down. Maybe he knows more about the car than we do. But anyway, he might have a year off, who knows? I think he doesn’t feel he can get out of bed with a spring in his step driving for a red car any more and obviously as an athlete that’s a problem.”

Assessing the work required to continue competing at the highest level, Webber added: “With an athlete, it’s up to them, and longevity is a key component.

“And you have to work out Monday to Friday how to keep the batteries topped up, too, and Maranello certainly hasn’t helped Vettel’s batteries.”

Vettel has been linked with Mercedes, yet while motorsport boss Toto Wolff has not ruled out the 32-year-old from a seat alongside Lewis Hamilton in 2021, few believe such a move will happen.