Ferrari has stated retaining Sebastian Vettel is their "first choice" for the 2021 season.

The four-time Formula 1 champion is out of contract at the end of the year and the pressure is on after a tough 2019 saw Vettel out-scored by Charles Leclerc in his first year in red.

Not only that, Seb is still susceptible to mistakes and has shown growing unhappiness with the current state of F1, but team boss Mattia Binotto continues to back him.

“Seb is our first choice at the moment,” he told Reuters. “Obviously it is something we are discussing with him and we will continue discussing, but he is certainly our first option, our preference.”

It has been speculated that Lewis Hamilton could make the move from Mercedes in a blockbuster move, this after it emerged he met with chairman John Elkann last year.

“We are focused on our drivers and we are considering Seb as our option at the moment," Binotto insisted.

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Should Vettel leave it is likely he would retire but, despite claims he has thought of doing just that, the 32-year-old insists he is happy in F1.

“I feel young enough. You spoke about Lewis, he’s even older so that’s not a limitation,” he said.

“So yeah, happy to keep going.”

Of course, something that may influence that decision is how the partnership with Leclerc evolves in 2020 and whether the Monegasque asserts himself as the lead driver.

In Australia though, Ferrari have made it clear both drivers start on an equal footing.

“It’s developed,” Binotto told Formula1.com of the relationship. “Charles has got a year’s experience with us and they will be on the same level, they can both fight to be ahead.

“So let them race.”

And Vettel himself has no issue with that, suggesting it has been that way for some time already.

“[It was] not like I had a different car [in 2019],” he said. “We both have the same car and the same chance to race well.

“I never doubted that, I don’t think Charles did either.

“It doesn’t change anything. Starting on equal terms, we were last year, we are this year as well.”