With 2022 completed, Sebastian Vettel is officially a retired Formula 1 driver, something which still just doesn’t sound right.
The German leaves the sport following a truly remarkable career, one that began at the 2007 United States Grand Prix.
Vettel replaced Robert Kubica at Indianapolis due to the Pole having been declared unfit to drive, following his huge crash at the previous Canadian Grand Prix.
The 35-year-old certainly grasped the opportunity with both hands, as he incredibly claimed a points finish on his debut in the sport, something which caught the entire paddock’s attention.
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He then completed the 2008 season for Toro Rosso, where he further raised his value by winning the Italian Grand Prix, a victory that saw him quickly promoted to Red Bull in 2009.
Instantly, Vettel became a title challenger and despite missing out in 2009, he went on to claim four consecutive Drivers’ Championships from 2010-2013.
During that period, he was simply unbeatable, with the German in 2013 having won nine consecutive races, a record that will perhaps never be beaten.
The hybrid era, though, hasn’t been the kindest to Vettel, who moved to Ferrari in 2015 and ultimately failed to emulate fellow German Michael Schumacher, who claimed five World Championships for Ferrari.
His move to Aston Martin in 2021 really marked the beginning of the end of Vettel’s F1 career, with the 53-time GP winner having become a regular midfield runner due to the car he was driving.
Somewhat ironically, Vettel’s strongest period for Aston Martin was the last part of 2022, where he regularly battled for the points places.
The now-retired German, though, won’t just be remembered as an incredible driver; he’ll also be remembered for being an equally special person, one who stood for what he believed in.
Over recent years, Vettel has turned his attention to activism and supporting campaigns and communities that need support, with one in particular having touched Lewis Hamilton.
Despite having spent many years as rivals, Vettel was the first driver to take a knee with Hamilton in support of Black Lives Matter, the campaign that was started following the inhumane murder of George Floyd.
Since then, the pair have fought together in support of topics like equal rights and the LGBTQ community, something they have been commended for.
With that in mind, Hamilton has admitted that Vettel is someone who “truly stood for something”, with the seven-time World Champion set to really miss the German driver.
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“He’s one of the only drivers that stands for something,” said Hamilton.
“I mean, really, what other driver here has really truly stood for something other than themselves? And that’s something to be really admired in a human being.”
“He will be missed on the track, but he’s probably one of the few drivers that, in 20 years time, 30 years, we’ll still be friends.”