Zoom Might as well put the Ferrari engine in the next car with Vettel...

Niki Lauda would not be surprised if, with the blessing of Dietrich Mateschitz, Monza winner Sebastian Vettel calls off his switch to Red Bull Racing for 2009.

The 21-year-old currently drives for Red Bull's junior team Toro Rosso, which with the Ferrari customer engine is currently showing higher performance than its Renault-powered parent.

"Vettel should do a comparison test in the winter with the Toro Rosso and the Red Bull and decide then," Lauda, the former triple World Champion and now regular F1 commentator, told Sport Bild.

Lauda, 59, believes Vettel's contract is with Red Bull, rather than with either of Mateschitz's teams.

"Mateschitz is a logically-thinking guy," said Lauda, who is also an Austrian.

"He wants to have success with his brand. So if he sees that it would be best to leave Vettel with Toro Rosso, I am sure he would do that," he added.

The possibility of simply switching the Ferrari engine to Red Bull Racing should also be considered, a move which would thereby allow Vettel's name to be directly associated with the brand, rather than letting the main operation seem like a junior team.

D.B. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM