2009 Formula One World Championship joined Brawn as a test driver. Force India joined Brawn GP in using the Mercedes engines by signing a five-year deal until 2013, having ended their previous supply contract from Ferrari. The retirement of Red Bull Racing driver David Coulthard led to the appointment of Sebastian Vettel as his replacement, who left the Scuderia Toro Rosso team after a successful previous season including winning the Italian Grand Prix. Toro Rosso, a team designed to develop new Formula One drivers, saw co-owner Gerhard Berger sell his half-stake back to Red Bull, claiming that the new regulations would "leave no room for
Sebastian Vettel his life achievements, on his behalf, along with Schumacher's long-term manager Sabine Kehm a year later. Vettel also made an emotional speech commemorating Schumacher's achievements in the sport. The two of them had got to know each other well from racing together in Formula One and in the Race of Champions and are – along with Nico Rosberg – the only German Formula One title winners. In 2014, Vettel cited Schumacher as one of his inspirations in becoming a Ferrari driver from 2015 saying; ""When I was a kid, Michael Schumacher in the red car was my greatest idol and