Suzuka: Red Bull dropped a bombshell on the Formula One paddock on Saturday with the news that four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel is leaving at the end of the season and heading for Ferrari.

Red Bull’s announcement sent a tremor through the sport as the implications of the move sank in.

“Sebastian Vettel has advised us that he will be leaving Red Bull at the end of the 2014 season,” the champions said in a statement. “We want to warmly thank Sebastian for the incredible role he has played at Red Bull for the last six years.”

Team Principal Christian Horner said the 27-year-old was joining Ferrari, although there was no immediate confirmation from the Italian team whose principal Marco Mattiacci remained tight-lipped.

At the same time, Red Bull moved swiftly to fill the vacancy by appointing 20-year-old Russian rookie Daniil Kvyat from Toro Rossso to take Vettel’s place next year alongside Australian Daniel Ricciardo.

Vettel, who has been part of the Red Bull ‘family’ for 15 years, said it had been “a tough day and a tough decision” and it was not because he was unhappy at the team.

“We had an incredible run, the last five or six years. Obviously this year was not the way we were hoping for but it’s part of racing, part of life,” he told Sky television.

“I’m leaving a very happy place... but at some point in your life you feel you want to do something new. That voice kept growing and led me to decide to leave Red Bull and start a new chapter.

“It has nothing to do with the results we had this year. It’s more the fact that I felt ready and I thought the time is right,” said Vettel.

“I’m full of hope and full of faith that anywhere I go I will succeed.”

Former Ferrari driver Niki Lauda, who is now non-executive chairman of the Mercedes team, said Vettel had told Horner only on Friday night.

“Last night at 9.30 Sebastian walked up to Christian and said ‘I’m leaving’. Honestly, it was that way,” said the Austrian. “He surprised everybody because in his contract he could do that.”

The moves left an open question mark over the future of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso. (Agencies)