02/12/2014
NEWS STORY
Whilst his contract with Red Bull officially ended last Friday - the German subsequently heading off to spend three days with his new team at Maranello - today Sebastian Vettel bid farewell to his former colleagues at Milton Keynes.
The race bays were festooned with German flags and hot chocolate and pretzels were served whilst a video loop of the Vettel's 'greatest hits' played in the background.
The entire workforce gathered for a final group photo with Christian Horner saying a few words, Adrian Newey a few more and finally the German admitting: "You're not making this any easier.
"The last six years have been incredible," he continued. "What we've achieved, the work that's gone in. So much passion, so much dedication. It will always stay in my heart. Big, big thank you to everyone. In the end we had the better car because we were the better team. Thank you really doesn't really describe enough what I feel."
Horner then presented Vettel with a goody bag to take away. According to the team it included an espresso cup, some very tight red Speedos and a pair of sunglasses – none of which have ever been required in Milton Keynes – and a few other items that, for the sake of Anglo-Italian relations will go unmentioned.
The German was also given a 50 per cent scale model bull with his championship laurels engraved on the plinth, while one of his championship-winning cars will also be finding its way into his garage... but not just yet because, as Horner explained; "we don't want it turning up in Maranello."
Adrian Newey was uncharacteristically voluble when it was his turn with the microphone. "Whenever Sebastian's been in the car he's been carrying all of our hopes, our ambitions," said the chief technical officer. "But we've always known that he's putting everything of himself into it as well. It's been a real privilege."
Vettel waved goodbye and subsequently went to the main factory where h spent the rest of the day signing kit and memorabilia for pretty much everyone in the factory.
"There's a lot of happy memories from this place that I'm holding onto," he said. "It's been a great journey and I've very grateful for what all of you did for me. I'll shut up now."
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