According to Otmar Szafnauer, Alpine’s F1 team principal and former director of strategy and business planning at Honda F1, there was a two-week window when Vettel was available to return to his junior days.
Szafnauer has always enjoyed a good relationship with Vettel and played a key role in signing the German driver for Aston Martin last year after holding talks until 2020. Vettel announced late last month that he would retire from F1 at the end of the season.
Asked about his best Vettel story in Hungary, Szafnauer revealed there was a time he had hoped to sign the then Red Bull and BMW-linked youngster for Honda, only to have sporting director Gil de Ferran drag on his heels on a movement.
“Seb came up to me and he said, ‘I have a two-week window’ and he was young, he was I don’t know, 19 or whatever,” Szafnauer recalled.
“‘I have a two-week window where I’m out of contract at both Red Bull and I’m thinking BMW. So are you interested in signing me?
“He was an unknown quantity at the time. But I’m like, ‘Yeah, this kid is good!’ Two week window!
“So I went to Gil, and I said, ‘we have a two-week window to sign Seb Vettel.’ He said, ‘don’t worry, I’ve got my eye on it.'” What do you mean, you’ve got my eye on it? We have two weeks!
“Anyway, we didn’t sign it.”
Jenson Button, Honda RA107
Picture by: Motorsport Images
Vettel then made his F1 debut for BMW Sauber at the 2007 US Grand Prix, replacing the injured Robert Kubica, before gaining a full-time racing seat with Red Bull junior team Toro Rosso, more late that year.
It paved the way for Vettel to become the youngest winner of the F1 race at Monza in 2008 for Toro Rosso before winning his first world title in 2010 with Red Bull.
Szafnauer will leave Honda in mid-2008, which turned out to be the Japanese manufacturer’s last season with a works team. He pulled the plug at the end of the year which saw Brawn GP pick up the pieces to win both titles in 2009 before eventually moving to the Mercedes works team from 2010.
Szafnauer and Vettel held talks through 2020 over a move to what was then known as Racing Point, including a famous lift in a car to a service station during the British Grand Prix.
Szafnauer revealed Vettel brought home-baked bread when he came to stay with him in the UK, addressing the character of the four-time world champion.
“During COVID he felt more comfortable not going to a hotel where he thought he could recover from Covid than spending time with us every time he came to England as everyone was testing every day, so everyone knew we’re Covid-free,” says Szafnauer.
“And every time he came, he brought with him homemade bread, which he made in Switzerland, in this little satchel he had, he brought it with him. And I remember the first time, the kids were all watching but they loved Seb’s homemade bread.
“Each time he came, he had to bring his homemade bread. Great! I mean, who else does that?
According to Otmar Szafnauer, Alpine’s F1 team principal and former director of strategy and business planning at Honda F1, there was a two-week window when Vettel was available to return to his junior days.
Szafnauer has always enjoyed a good relationship with Vettel and played a key role in signing the German driver for Aston Martin last year after holding talks until 2020. Vettel announced late last month that he would retire from F1 at the end of the season.
Asked about his best Vettel story in Hungary, Szafnauer revealed there was a time he had hoped to sign the then Red Bull and BMW-linked youngster for Honda, only to have sporting director Gil de Ferran drag on his heels on a movement.
“Seb came up to me and he said, ‘I have a two-week window’ and he was young, he was I don’t know, 19 or whatever,” Szafnauer recalled.
“‘I have a two-week window where I’m out of contract at both Red Bull and I’m thinking BMW. So are you interested in signing me?
“He was an unknown quantity at the time. But I’m like, ‘Yeah, this kid is good!’ Two week window!
“So I went to Gil, and I said, ‘we have a two-week window to sign Seb Vettel.’ He said, ‘don’t worry, I’ve got my eye on it.'” What do you mean, you’ve got my eye on it? We have two weeks!
“Anyway, we didn’t sign it.”
Jenson Button, Honda RA107
Picture by: Motorsport Images
Vettel then made his F1 debut for BMW Sauber at the 2007 US Grand Prix, replacing the injured Robert Kubica, before gaining a full-time racing seat with Red Bull junior team Toro Rosso, more late that year.
It paved the way for Vettel to become the youngest winner of the F1 race at Monza in 2008 for Toro Rosso before winning his first world title in 2010 with Red Bull.
Szafnauer will leave Honda in mid-2008, which turned out to be the Japanese manufacturer’s last season with a works team. He pulled the plug at the end of the year which saw Brawn GP pick up the pieces to win both titles in 2009 before eventually moving to the Mercedes works team from 2010.
Szafnauer and Vettel held talks through 2020 over a move to what was then known as Racing Point, including a famous lift in a car to a service station during the British Grand Prix.
Szafnauer revealed Vettel brought home-baked bread when he came to stay with him in the UK, addressing the character of the four-time world champion.
“During COVID he felt more comfortable not going to a hotel where he thought he could recover from Covid than spending time with us every time he came to England as everyone was testing every day, so everyone knew we’re Covid-free,” says Szafnauer.
“And every time he came, he brought with him homemade bread, which he made in Switzerland, in this little satchel he had, he brought it with him. And I remember the first time, the kids were all watching but they loved Seb’s homemade bread.
“Each time he came, he had to bring his homemade bread. Great! I mean, who else does that?
