Sebastian Vettel says that the "myth" of driving for a big manufacturer team like Ferrari or Mercedes in the future would not be enough to take him there, as he made clear on Friday that he remains committed to Red Bull Racing.
In a column for the German newspaper Bild, the new World Champion wrote about his thoughts for the future – and especially whether he could see himself following in the footsteps of compatriot Michael Schumacher.
"He [Schumacher] told me that special moments can be experienced driving for Ferrari, or for Mercedes," wrote Vettel. "Both brands are the past, the present and almost certainly the future of Formula 1.
"Every driver secretly dreams of Ferrari or Mercedes. However, whether you go there someday depends on many factors. And everything has to fit together – the myth is not enough.
"But that's far, far away. Next, I will defend the title with Red Bull. We have something that in F1 is crucial for success: the right people in the right place."
Vettel also moved to play down talk that he could yet go on to equal or beat some of Schumacher's records in F1.
"Now I know how difficult and stressful it is to win a title," he said. "Michael has done it seven times! But I do not drive in Formula 1 in order to break Michael's records. You cannot compare my life and career with his. He is just a legend and I am just getting started."