Mattia Binotto on Sebastian Vettel’s future with Scuderia Ferrari. Ferrari technical director on Seb's future with the Maranello team.

Ferrari technical director Mattia Binotto has said that he thinks Sebastian Vettel will sign a new deal with the Maranello team. Recently, given the fact that Sebastian’s current contract with Ferrari will expire at the end of the season, Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne said that the German is free to stay.

Now, Germany’s Sport Bild informs that Sergio Marchionne wants that 2018 deal to be done before September’s Italian Grand Prix, which will take place at Monza. Team technical chief Mattia Binotto told La Gazetta dello Sport: “Vettel is not only one of our drivers, he is a multi world champion. I think he will stay with us. Why? Because there is nothing more beautiful for a Formula 1 driver than to win with the reds.”

Binotto added that Seb’s most recent win, in the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix two weeks ago, was a turning point for the Italian team, who have not won a title for a decade: “It was 16 years since Ferrari had won in the principality, so I think victory was a liberation. It was a victory that made us realise we have a fast car and we can now compete on par. Or prove to be even stronger than the others.” – Ferrari’s technical director explained, as reported by the Italian media.

Former Scuderia Ferrari driver Jean Alesi is also confident in the possibility of Sebastian Vettel staying beyond 2017: “I know what emotions he has when he wins with the reds. He came from a team that had no history even though they won the championship. He realised that Ferrari is worth so much more, through the love of the tifosi and even in the disappointment.” – Jean Alesi said.

However, Sport Bild quotes Sebastian Vettel as saying: “For the moment I have decided with my team not to talk about contracts, but instead focus entirely on the title race.”