It ends here. At the end of the current season, four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will leave Formula 1. The German, who made his professional racing debut with BMW Sauber at the 2007 United States Grand Prix, made the announcement on his freshly launched Instagram account, which marked his first excursion into social media.
Vettel is third all-time on the list of Grand Prix winners with 53 victories and won all four of his titles with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013.
In six years with Ferrari, he was unable to win the much desired fifth championship, and in one and a half years with Aston Martin, where his contract ends at the end of 2022, he has only achieved one podium finish.
The Formula 1 driver, who competes with Lance Stroll, said that this will be his final complete season in the sport before the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The decision to retire has been a difficult one for me to take, and I have spent a lot of time thinking about it; at the end of the year I want to take some more time to reflect on what I will focus on next; it is very clear to me that, being a father, I want to spend more time with my family.
But today is not about saying goodbye. Rather, it is about saying thank you – to everyone – not least to the fans, without whose passionate support Formula 1 could not exist.
My goals have shifted from winning races and fighting for championships to seeing my children grow, passing on my values, helping them up when they fall, listening to them when they need me, not having to say goodbye and most importantly being able to learn from them and let them inspire me.
Sebastian Vettel
Image Credit: Formula 1
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🥺🥺 Danke!
I remember when I started watching back in 2011 when I saw Seb doing his magic. Such an arrogant and hated kid back then who grew up to be the most loved. F1 will greatly miss him. A true gem of a person. Danke, Weltmeister.
I never watched or followed F1 very closely but I always knew who this legend is. Sebastian Vettel. As they say, “Legends never retire”. Wish him all the success and happiness in the next chapter of his life✨