The Heppenheim driver announced that at the end of this season he will leave the category, the four-time German champion retires. So, when the Great Circus lowers its curtain and turns off the lights on its final date, the Abu Dhabi GP, we will be forced to say goodbye to a Champion. The Formula 1 grid will be left with a great void for its most immediate future.
That young blonde who broke into the Formula 1 grid in 2007 at the hands of BMW Sauber, jumped to Toro Rosso the following year and surprised the world that same season with his pole position and victory at Monza. That pilot who amazed the world with his victories and showed his finger as No. 1 for so many tracks, now says goodbye.
He would then make the leap to Red Bull to lead the energy drink brand into Formula 1 history. Sebastian Vettel wrote the history of his team and his own in the great F1 books, in pure gold. Four world titles in his power and a stage of dominance that marked an era. An era that ended with a great phrase from Sebastian to his team: “enjoy this moment, we don’t know if it will happen again”.
And so it was, it never happened again. He was close with the Prancing Horse, but Vettel couldn’t emulate his childhood idol at Ferrari. The stage ended unsuccessfully for him wearing the colors of Maranello, then he embarked on the Aston Martin project and we already know the story, the promises did not materialize.
Sebastian Vettel has broken the news through a video in which he has removed the pilot façade and has shown his most human side. Seb has talked about him, the more personal side of him and his role in his life as father and husband. Formula 1 has great importance in his life, but not everything is Formula 1. There are a few races ahead to enjoy Sebastian Vettel before he leaves.
Perhaps Sebastian Vettel is not a much-loved driver in Spain. Probably because the vast majority did not know how to appreciate and value his talent, since he was fighting for the championships with the great national idol. But part of acknowledging your talent is admitting the greatness of your rivals. And Sebastian Vettel is, and was, a great driver and a great person, to show the first his achievements and the second his actions. The generational change follows his progress in Formula 1, it’s a great shame.
Sebastian Vettel, four-time Formula 1 world champion:
“I have had the privilege of working with many fantastic people in Formula 1 over the last 15 years, there are too many to mention and thank.. For the last two years I have been a driver for the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team and, although our results have not been as good as we expected, I am very clear that everything is being put together so that a team needs to compete at the highest level in the next years”.
“I really enjoyed working with such a great group of people. Everyone – Lawrence, Lance, Martin, Mike, the senior managers, the engineers, the mechanics and the rest of the team – are ambitious, capable, knowledgeable, committed, friendly and love it. I wish everyone the best“.
“I hope that the work I did last year and continue to do this year will be useful in developing a team that will win in the future.and I will work as hard as I can between now and the end of the year with that goal in mind, giving my best as always in the last 10 races.”
“The decision to retire has been difficult for me to make. and I’ve 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. I am very clear that as 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, especially the fans, without whose passionate support Formula 1 could not exist.”
Lawrence Stroll, executive chairman of Aston Martin:
“I want to thank Sebastian from the bottom of my heart for the great work he has done for the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team over the last year and a half. We made it clear to him that we wanted him to be with us next year, but in the end he’s done what he thinks is right for him and his family, and of course we respect that.“.
“He’s driven some fantastic races for us and, behind the scenes, your experience and insights with our engineers have been extremely valuable. He is one of the all-time greats in Formula 1, and it has been a privilege to have been able to work with him. He will continue to race for us up to and including the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which it will be his participation number 300 in the Grand Prix. We’ll give him a fabulous send-off.”
Mike Krack, director of the Aston Martin team:
“Sebastian is an excellent driver, fast, intelligent and strategic, and of course we will miss those qualities. However, we have all learned from him and the knowledge we have gained from working with him will continue to benefit our team long after his departure.”
“Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team is a great project, with unlimited potential, and the groundwork that Sebastian did last year and continues to do this year is crucial. When we are fully competitive, and we will be, one of the architects of that future success will be Sebastian And we will always be grateful to him for that.”