“Thanks Seb”: a big farewell to Vettel, a driver who improved Formula 1 on and off the track

Being German and succeeding in Formula 1 didn’t seem easy when Sebastian Vettel stepped into the shadow of seven-times champion Michael Schumacher 15 seasons ago. How to conquer her? How to avoid comparisons? How to be the new king? He didn’t even need his four titles to win over fans or his peers. Proof of this was the recognition of his colleagues and the public in his farewell to the category, this Sunday, with a tenth place in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Vettel leaves the category as one of the most champion pilots (4 titles, surpassed only by Schumi, Lewis Hamilton Y Juan Manuel Fangio) and as third with the most wins: 53.

And fate would have it that in the UAE the day of farewell came to the 299 runs in Formula 1, for being the seventh driver with the most Grands Prix.

Sebastian was born on July 3, 1987, exactly 17 and a half years after Schumacher, in the picturesque town of Heppenheim, which maintains its 25,000 inhabitants in southwestern Germany.

Arrived in Formula 1 through Sauber, he was eighth in the 2007 United States Grand Prix, where he later became the youngest pilot in history debut in the queen category. And after moving to Toro Rosso in mid-2007, he set a new record for earliness in Japan, being the youngest ever to drive a race.

The glory comes at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix, in Monza, where it is stated as the poleman minorrecord it still holds 21 years and 72 days. And the next day he was the first winner. That mark was only surpassed eight years later by Dutchman Max Verstappen when he won the 2016 Spanish GP aged 18 years and 228 days.

But he still lacked titles. When Ferrari’s power ran out, Red Bull took over and Vettel was champion with that team in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, following sporadic celebrations by McLaren (with Hamilton) and Brawn (with Jenson Button).

Like this entered the history of the greatsonly below the seven titles of Schumacher, his childhood idol (Hamilton reached that figure in 2020) and the five of Fangio.

Ferrari then nabbed the driver at the age of 27, hoping they would be as successful as the Austrian team. But the problem lay in the Italian team’s development of the car, which was never able to match the performance Mercedes had found in the hybrid era.

That relative “failure” of Vettel It was the darkest moment of his career, since he replaced Fernando Alonso in 2015, but he has not been able to return to stable above, the space he last occupied with Kimi Raikkonen in 2007.

His roof with Ferrari was to be a guard for Hamilton in 2017 and 2018. He won his last Grand Prix in Singapore in 2019 and said goodbye to the Italian team in 2020.

Rumors of retirement then appeared, but the German gave himself a new chance at Aston Martin, a team that promised far more than it ultimately delivered.

However, Vettel found there other scenarios to devote away from cockpit. On the one hand, he contributed to the development of the car and left his legacy for those to come. On the other hand, he has used his position as an F1 figurehead to make visible just causes in the field of the environment and the rights of the most oppressed groups.

“We have spread a huge carpet with good messages, but i think that it takes more than words: actions are needed. Our sport could put a lot of pressure and be of great help in spreading that equality around the world,” he asked over and over again.

So he acted without waiting. He made special helmets, put slogans on his clothes, brought displaced communities closer to an elitist Formula 1 from its inception, among many other measures that have perhaps been somewhat eclipsed by Hamilton’s drive to Black lives matter.

Although his contract expired at the end of this year and although Aston Martín has not ruled out extending it, Vettel did something unexpected for someone without social networks, who anticipated this end: he created an Instagram account and posted to end of July who was retiring from Formula 1.

“I have had the privilege of working with many fantastic people in Formula 1 over the past 15 years. There are too many to mention and thank,” he remarked in that message.

The father of Emily (8), Matilda (7) and of a man born in 2019 recounted the fear that his future causes him without a helmet or flame retardant suit: “The decision to retire was difficult and I spent a lot time to think about it. It means spending a lot of time in one’s head, in one’s thoughts, but also physically away from home, children and family. Aside from children growing up, there are other interests and points of view and I can’t ignore those voices.”

And he concluded: “It’s not that from now on I hate running. I still love running. I’m not leading the way, because it’s my decision, but I’m happy to go in a different direction.”.

He knows the future may not be as easy as having fun in the car, regardless of the outcome, it has been for nearly two decades. “Honestly, I’m scared of what’s coming because it might be a hole. I don’t know how deep it is or if I’m going to get out of it,” he was honest. But I think I have a lot of support and I hope to make the right decisions in the future to progress and become a better version of myself in 10 years.”

Seb’s struggles

There were bees drawn on Sebastian Vettel’s helmet at this year’s Austrian Grand Prix. The reason was the busy struggle of the German to save the environment. It wasn’t the first time he had referred to the importance of these animals: in July last year he had built a wooden “hotel for bees” in the shape of a formula car and full of flowers to pollinate. He was in the area near the Red Bull Ring and dozens of children helped him.

It’s July 18, 2021. The British Grand Prix is ​​over and he didn’t enjoy himself: he abandoned a difficult race with 12 laps to go that Lewis Hamilton won after colliding with Max Verstappen at the first corner. However, Vettel went to the Silverstone grandstands for pick up the trash what fans threw.

He dons black gloves and a mask and holds up a finger when they realize he’s being filmed, even though this action was far from being part of a commercial. He was simply obeying his pledge.

It is July 30, 2021. Vettel knows where he is: in a country that a month ago passed a law that prevents gays from appearing in school teaching materials or in television programs for children under 18. Therefore makes the LGBTQ+ community visibledresses in the colors of the rainbow, wears a T-shirt in the preview of the race with the phrase “Same Love” (“Same Love”) and also puts the symbol on his helmet.

In 2022 he became the first F1 driver to appear on the cover of attitude, a British LGBTQ+ magazine. “It doesn’t matter the color of your skin, your origin, where you live or who you fall in love with. In the end, you just want equal treatment for everyone. Everyone has the same right to love“, She said.

But equality is not sought only in those who are grouped together in a community. It’s December 2, 2021 and there are three days left before the first Saudi Arabian GP. Vettel understands the importance of focusing on one’s work, but also the need to make silenced voices visible in the Arab world: those of women, who were only able to drive after 2018.

The four-time F1 champion rents a track from go karting and invites some local pilots to be able to listen to them on the situation they are experiencing. “Today I organized my event of go-kart under the hashtag #raceforwomen, and I think there was a group of seven or eight girls and women on the floor. We organized a nice event just for them and I tried to pass on some of my experiences in life and on the track, to do something together and to build their trust,” she explained.

Goodbye to your colleagues

Fernando Alonso: “We had good battles, because I was there when he won his World Cup. He is a great champion and a good person, with excellent values. I wish him the best and I understand his decision.”

Lance Stroll: “He’s been a great teammate, who has won so many things… He’s closing a very important chapter in his life and now he has to look ahead and focus on his family and other things. He’s always been a man“.

Max Verstappen: “He’s won so many things that it’s understandable that he’s decided to retire. His career has been fascinating. He’s had many victories and won many World Cups. It’s something you see coming and you know it can happen, but you never know when it’s going to happen , now I wish him all is well and that he enjoys life with his family, which is the one he touches”.

Daniel Ricardo: “He was fast in every way, even off the track. He had a great sense of humour. He was generous and we got along really well when we met at Red Bull.”

Sergio “Checo” Perez: “It’s a shame he’s leaving, but after achieving so much he’s more than earned the right to be with his family.”

Pierre Gasley: “When I was negotiating to be a Red Bull driver, I called him in Singapore for advice on negotiating with (Helmut) Marko and with Christian (Horner). Obviously I thought it would be a short conversation. But it lasted about a ‘hour and a half’.

LewisHamilton: “Seb, it has been an honor to compete with you and an even greater honor to call you my friend. The goal is always to leave this sport better than when you arrived. I have no doubt that what lies ahead will be exciting, meaningful and rewarding . I love you”.

George Russell: “He’s been an inspiration to all of us and it’s always been fun to spend time with him.”

Charles Sainz: “He has always been a model. For me, when I was in Red Bull’s young driver programme, it was a privilege to be in the simulator at the time he was winning the World Cup. He was always very nice and gave me good advice. I wish him the best for the future and may he be very happy with his family.”

Charles Leclerc: “It will be strange not to see more seb in the paddock. I learned a lot alongside him and he was always very nice to me. We will definitely miss him in the paddock, but I wish him the best and I’m sure he will find other things that will make him happy, in a different way.”

Mick Schumacher: “Thank you for all you have contributed to the sport we both love. Thank you, sebyou are an inspiration”.

Lando Norris. “Someone I’ve admired since I literally started. Thank you for being the role model we need and for making the game we love better. Dank, Seb (Thanks Seb.)”