Vettel hits out at fake social media profiles

Sebastian Vettel has dealt a blow to his thousands of fans on social media sites Twitter and Facebook.

The reigning world champion told Germany’s Bild newspaper: "It’s not me. I am not on Facebook or Twitter."

"I prefer to have personal contact with the fans, for example in the autograph signings."

The report said there are more than a dozen apparently ’official’ Facebook and Twitter profiles for the 24-year-old Red Bull driver, the most with almost 600,000 fans.

Bild added that Vettel is bidding to have the fake accounts removed.

The fraudulent profiles could explain a rumour earlier this week that Vettel has bought a mansion in his hometown Heppenheim for EUR 1.5 million.

"I looked at the house but didn’t buy it," said the German, who lives in Switzerland.