Vettel could sign with McLaren this week, who would then let Sainz move to Ferrari.

The usually well-informed, long-time Formula 1 reporter Ralf Bach has learned that Sebastian Vettel has been negotiating with McLaren team boss Andreas Seidl for some time. Vettel is to be given a 1-year contract with an option to extend it, and will use his experience to help McLaren to further restructure the team.

Vettel is considered a fan of the old Formula 1, in which McLaren has always made a very good impression. His first model car is said to have been Ayrton Senna’s McLaren Honda.

McLaren currently has an option to extend the contract with Carlos Sainz, if Vettel were to sign with McLaren this week, the British would not take up the option and Sainz would be free to switch to Ferrari.

This would also be in line with the assessment of Max Verstappen, who in an interview with ex-Formula 1 driver David Coulthard predicted that it would not be an Italian sounding name that Ferrari would sign. Verstappen’s reference to his ex-teammate Daniel Ricciardo should be self-explanatory.