Veteran Italian journalist Leo Turrini claims Ferrari won't be pushing Sebastian Vettel out the door amid retirement talk.
After the Monaco Grand Prix, it was reported the 31-year-old is considering leaving the sport after this season as success remains hard to come by at the Scuderia.
A lack of performance from the 2019 car already means a championship bid is looking near to impossible and that's before the threat posed by new teammate Charles Leclerc is thrown into the mix.
In his blog, however, Turrini is quoted by GPFans as insisting Ferrari are more than happy for Vettel to see out his current contract which lasts until the end of next year.
"At the moment nobody at Ferrari wants to see Vettel leave," he said.
"In Maranello, they are well aware that Captain America could drive the car, but he would not be able to win the championship.
"Certainly Vettel currently has a feeling of legitimate frustration," Turrini noted.
"He is in his fifth year in Italy, he has given so much, he has made some mistakes, he has won a dozen Grands Prix or so.
"In my opinion, he deserves much more respect in the world of the media and social media, but I don't expect that my opinion is shared."
Also Read:
- Vettel on retirement rumour: 'I still have something to do at Ferrari'
- Vettel still sees potential for Ferrari but admits it 'won't happen overnight'
- Opinion: F1 needs to stop obsessing about Hamilton joining Ferrari
In the initial report suggesting Vettel could walk away, several names were mentioned as possible replacements.
One that Turrini very much doubts Ferrari would consider though, is Lewis Hamilton.
"I don't think Hamilton is ready to come and dress in red," Turrini wrote.
"Things have taken a turn such that in the next 18 months Lewis could equal the mythical Schumacher record of seven titles.
"At the same time, there is no doubt that Hamilton would like, in perspective, to succeed where [Fernando] Alonso failed and where, up to this point, Vettel is struggling."
