Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel has conceded that he does not know what he is going to do when he retires from Formula 1, and this is something that worries him slightly.
The four-time world champion is out of contract at the British side at the end of the 2022 season, and there is no certainty that he is going to sign a new contract.
Haas’ Mick Schumacher and Alpine’s Fernando Alonso have both been linked with his seat for next year and, having won 53 races with Red Bull and Ferrari in an illustrious career, the two points finishes he has managed in 2022 in an underperforming AMR22 are unlikely to keep him equally enthused.
He has also spoken out against the damage the pinnacle of motorsport does to the environment with all the travelling involved with the job, and he has started a young family whom he would understandably like to devote more time to.
However, he does not know what life has in store for him if he does hang up the racing boots, so there is an element of fear attached to the thought of leaving F1.
“Yes,” he replied at Peroni’s ‘Il Pitstop’ experience launch when asked if he fears retirement.
“I have done motor racing for my whole life and it gives you security, in terms of the schedule being made by other people.
“I don’t know what life after Formula 1 looks like and I don’t think any sportsperson knows what the next life looks like. You can have certain things lined up but you don’t know and that is the truth.
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“I don’t expect to find something tomorrow which I am really good at because I have found something in my life that I am really good at and it is hard to find that again. How many times can you win the lottery?
“I enjoy driving the car but there are other things I don’t like.
“After so many years the usual stuff comes up that you don’t understand at the beginning, like the travel. It is very time consuming and I have kids at home and a family so it equals time away from them.
“The future depends on this year and the races that I have coming up. I have not decided yet. The summer is the usual time when you start to talk so we will see.”
Vettel made his debut with BMW Sauber in 2007, scoring a point at the US Grand Prix with a mightily impressive performance while subbing in for the injured Robert Kubica.
He won his first race in Italy a year later with Toro Rosso, before going on to win all of his four championships between 2010 and 2013 with Red Bull.