Vettel told Red Bull chief Christian Horner on Friday night that he intended to leave, and the team made the formal announcement on Saturday ahead of qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix.

"After 15 very enjoyable and successful years with Red Bull, I have decided to leave Red Bull at the end of this year," Vettel said on his personal website. "Of course it is a big step and hard to make such a decision."

Red Bull immediately named a replacement, promoting Daniil Kvyat from its associated team Toro Rosso to join Daniel Ricciardo in a youthful 2015 lineup.

While Vettel said "about my future plans, there will be an announcement very soon", Horner was in no doubt as to where the German driver was headed.

"As of January 1st he'll be a competitor," Horner said. "He'll be a Ferrari driver."

"Obviously Ferrari have made him a very attractive offer.

"The lure of Ferrari; a window has opened there with whatever is going on and he has decided the timing is right for him."

Current Ferrari drivers Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen are both under contract with the Italian team for next season, but Alonso has been in talks with the team about his future.

Asked on Friday whether he could be driving for either of rival teams McLaren or Red Bull next year, Alonso said: "This is a very difficult question to answer. And I will repeat the answer, probably I will do the best for Ferrari."

With the Red Bull option now closed, McLaren looms as the likely destination for Alonso should he leave Ferrari. McLaren will enter a new phase in 2015 with a switch to Honda engines as the Japanese automaker re-enters the sport.

Popular

Luhut confirms Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed rail project will continue

Critical op-ed retraction tests freedom of expression

Nuclear option: Indonesia seeks to grow energy, cut emissions