Four-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel will leave Red Bull at the end of the season, with the team expecting him to join Ferrari.
Vettel told Red Bull chief Christian Horner on Friday night that he intended to leave, and the team made the formal announcement on today ahead of qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Red Bull immediately named a replacement, promoting Daniil Kvyat from its associated team Toro Rosso to join Daniel Ricciardo in a youthful 2015 lineup.
Vettel had been under contract with Red Bull for next season, but had also been strongly linked with a move to Ferrari, and Horner presumed Vettel was joining the Italian team.
"Obviously Ferrari have made him a very attractive offer," Horner said on Saturday.
"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 2015, but Alonso acknowledged he had been in recent talks with the team about his future.
Asked directly 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.
