Vettel brands first experience of driving a Ferrari 'like fairytale'

Four-time Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel has branded his first experience of driving a Ferrari like a 'fairytale' after completing his first days of testing post joining the team from Red Bull.

Vettel's Red Bull contract had prevented him from testing for Ferrari at the post-season Abu Dhabi test last week, but he arrived at Fiorano on Firday, where he drove a 2012 car the following day.

On Sunday Vettel spent a whole day in the simulator before meeting senior Ferrari figures such as chairman Sergio Marchionne, new team boss Maurizio Arrivabene and technical chief James Allison on Monday, ESPN reported.

When his move was announced Vettel spoke about the lure of following in the footsteps of his hero Michael Schumacher at Ferrari and admitted that his first moments in the car were special.

He said that there are a lot of fairytales about Ferrari and how it feels to drive a red car, adding that in the end he can only confirm these fairytales. He said that it's not just a story; it's a true legend that exists.

And Vettel said that it feels really, really special to become part of that and to be inside the car, to see the people coming, running to the track and trying to climb the walls to see the car.

Vettel said that there is definitely something very magical and something that happened which he would never forget. He said that he remembers he was there a long, long time ago as a little child, driving through Maranello and trying to look over the fence.

So, he said that to be there officially as part of the team, it felt fantastic to have the possibility to drive the car, and get to know the team.

Vettel said that it was a unique experience.

Vettel's association with Red Bull stretched back to 1998, when the junior team signed him, but he is relishing the new challenge at Ferrari now, the report added.