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• Vettel could quit F1 at the end of 2020
• Options to continue racing include Mercedes and Alfa Romeo
• Ricciardo believes Vettel is still 'hungry enough'
Renault's Daniel Ricciardo says he does not envisage Sebastian Vettel walking away from Formula 1 when his Ferrari contract expires at the end of 2020.
Earlier this month Vettel shocked many when he announced that 2020 would be his final season with Ferrari. The four-time World Champion joined the Scuderia in 2015 but, as yet, has not won a World title racing in red.
Vettel revealed that he and Ferrari no longer had a "common desire" to continue working together. Without a race seat for next season, Vettel has been linked to several teams on the grid from Mercedes to Renault to Aston Martin, maybe even Alfa Romeo and rekindle his partnership with Kimi Raikkonen.
His other option is retirement.
Sebastian Vettel. Image: Getty Images
Still competitive
Ricciardo, though, reckons the 32-year-old still has what it takes to be competitive in Formula 1.
The Aussie told CNN: "If I know him well enough, I believe he's still hungry and competitive enough to want to continue. Also, because he's still older than me. So it makes me not the oldest guy."
READ: Vettel is done with Ferrari, what's next? Here's where Seb could end up in 2021
Ricciardo took away one of Vettel's options for 2021 when he announced he would be heading to McLaren to replace the Ferrari-bound Carlos Sainz.
He continued: "I like Seb. Obviously, I had him as a team mate, but as a competitor he brings something to our sport. He's one of the very few if not the only one that isn't active on social media, and he's one of the most successful people ever in our sport, yet he's one of the most private. And even that in itself brings a lot of mystery behind him."
Ricciardo is one of only two team mates to have beaten Vettel, edging him out in 2014 while Charles Leclerc managed to do the same last season.
