Sebastian Vettel’s illustrious career in Formula 1 is less than a fortnight away from ending, with this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix representing the start of the final double header of the season.
Following what is predicted to be a drenched weekend in Sao Paulo, the season finale in Abu Dhabi will once again bring another season of the pinnacle of motorsport to an end, where it is likely all eyes will be on the battle for second in the Drivers’ Championship and the fight for fourth in the Constructors’.
For Vettel, he will be aiming for two points finishes to wrap up his F1 career, which started all the way back in 2007 at the United States Grand Prix, where he made his debut for BMW-Sauber after stepping in for an injured Robert Kubica.
Should Vettel manage two points finishes, then Aston Martin would likely jump Alfa Romeo for sixth in the standings, something which would come with a considerable financial bonus for the side, over finishing seventh.
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Some have questioned if the four-time World Champion will be taking it easy in the last two rounds; however, his recent performances show that certainly isn’t the case.
Incredibly, Vettel is driving the best he has done for the Silverstone-based side at the moment, leaving some to question why he’s retiring.
Aston Martin boss Mike Krack agreed that Vettel is performing the best he has done for the team currently, and that he is certainly “not on a farewell” tour.
“Probably yes,” answered Krack.
“I think he gained from the better performance [of the car] or the better results. It added a little bit more to his motivation.
“And it’s really nice to see him work. I think we had to kick him out of the office [on Friday night in Mexico, otherwise, he would have still been there, studying data, looking at where you can change things.
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“So he’s not on a farewell, this I can tell you for sure. He really wants to do well. He wants to bring us forward and bring his part to finish the season in the best possible place.”
This weekend’s race in Brazil will be a particularly special one for Vettel, who has won three times at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace; however, his P6 at the venue in 2012 is probably his happiest memory of the track.
Vettel recovered from last to finish sixth at the 2012 Brazilian GP, which saw him beat Fernando Alonso to the World Championship that year, which saw the 53-time GP winner become a three-time World Champion.