» How Vettel could be locked in at Red Bull

Another strong season for Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing could mean that the German will be locked in for another season at the Austrian team beyond 2011, whether he happens to like it or not.

After becoming the sport’s youngest-ever champion, the 23-year-old has been linked with a future move to Ferrari, although figures in the Red Bull camp have been quick to quash these suggestions.

And while Sebastian is contracted to Red Bull for the 2011 season, it was believed that an ‘option’ clause to extend his contract into the 2012 season could be exercised by either Vettel or Red Bull.

Not so, it seems, with Red Bull trotting out its own PR campaign in its Speed Week magazine publication this week. The article claims that, should Vettel either win a prescribed number of races or finish the 2011 season placed in the top-three of the Drivers’ Championship standings, then he is locked in to the team for the 2012 season.

“There is an option based on the results,” Red Bull’s advisor, Dr Helmut Marko, confirmed. “We will not just let a top driver go.”

[Original image via Sutton Images]