Sebastian Vettel makes Ferrari and Red Bull loyalties crystal clear in fresh admission

Sebastian Vettel might have spent six seasons with both Ferrari and Red Bull, but there's no doubt which stint he remembers most fondly. The German icon retired from the sport after the 2022 season, with only three drivers having bettered his total of four world titles.

The 38-year-old dominated the sport between 2010 and 2013. After being promoted from Toro Rosso, he won four consecutive Formula One crowns with Red Bull. His run was only ended by Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, and he was unable to top the drivers' standings again.

That was despite his switch to the Scuderia for the 2015 campaign. With the Italian giants, he twice finished second to Hamilton, but it was his time under Christian Horner that clearly resonated most.

"The people and the moments we shared (at Red Bull), and how much it brought us together," he told the ORF Sport am Sonntag podcast. "Even though I later had a very good time at Ferrari, a big part of me still identifies with Red Bull and Red Bull Racing.

Despite his admission, Vettel argued he doesn't rue his decision to join Ferrari. However, he was bound by confidentiality over the nature of his contract, and said the clause did impact his behaviour.

"I don't regret that move in itself," he continued. "I think it brought me a lot in that sense, in terms of experience and understanding of what I had at Red Bull at the time.

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"But I think the human element was lost a bit. I think it would have been more dignified to talk about it openly and perhaps not stick to that clause."

Vettel, whose final two years were with Aston Martin, did make a point of revealing he remained on good terms with his penultimate team, adding: "Overall, I had a great time, and I still have a great relationship with everyone I worked with back then."