Story highlights Christian Horner has played down speculation linked Sebastian Vettel with Ferrari

Horner hopes Vettel stays with the team for many years to come

Vettel can win a second drivers' championship with one point at Japanese Grand Prix

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has played down talk of Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel switching to rivals Ferrari.

Vettel, 24, is one point away from becoming the sport's youngest double championship winner, and the German has previously stated a desire to drive for Italian marque Ferrari in the future.

But Horner, who has been at the British-based team since 2005, dismissed suggestions a switch could be imminent and expressed his desire to keep hold of Vettel for many seasons to come.

"My guess is that right now the bull on his car is more welcome than the prancing horse [Ferrari's logo]," Horner told Formula One's official website.

"And if I had a say I would suggest that he joins Ferrari shortly before his retirement. We are proud to have him in the team and hopefully we will have many, many more successful years ahead."

Vettel's victory in Singapore on Sunday, his ninth of the season, means the former Toro Rosso racer can become the ninth man in F1 history to win back-to-back championships with a 10th-place finish at next month's Japanese Grand Prix.

The last time Vettel failed to finish a race in a point-scoring position was at the Korean Grand Prix in October 2010, where he retired due to engine problems having qualified in pole position.

Horner was full of praise for his driver and claimed Vettel sets the tone of races and grinds his rivals down with his consistency.

"The title win boosted Sebastian's self-confidence significantly," said Horner. "He knows now what he is capable of and builds on that.

"Right now he's the driver who sets the pattern. He's got immense speed and breath-taking consistency."

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone echoed Horner's sentiments, and claimed humility was key to Vettel's success.

"Sebastian has an absolute will to succeed but has stayed very grounded," said Ecclestone. "No win, however big, will stop him being grounded.

"That is immensely important in this business. Seb is relaxed and will always remain true to himself -- that is why things come easy."

Vettel will look to wrap up the drivers' title at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka on October 9.