Retired four-time Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel melted the hearts of his fans during the Easter weekend, after showing his love for his wife, Hanna Prater.
Despite having retired from the pinnacle of motorsport as a 53-time race winner, it appears that Vettel has added one final victory to his remarkable record, after winning “the most important race”.
When Vettel announced his retirement last season ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, the German stated on social media that he still had ‘a race to win’.
It appears he’s finally won that race, by taking to Instagram to post a message for the “love of my life”.
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“I won the most important race. It was the race into the heart of the love of my life, Hanna. I love you,” Vettel wrote on social media.
Vettel’s message was accompanied by several photos of the duo, who he’s known since childhood.
The vast majority of his racing career has been spent with Prater by his side, with her having seen the 35-year-old’s meteoric rise to becoming one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all-time.
Had Vettel opted to remain in F1 for another season instead of retiring, then perhaps his status as an all-time great would’ve risen even higher, with Aston Martin having started the 2023 F1 season with three podiums in a row.
Vettel’s two-year spell at Aston Martin was mostly disappointing, with the German having claimed just one podium for the Silverstone-based side.
Fernando Alonso has already claimed three for the British outfit, who have started this season as a frontrunning team.
Despite Aston Martin’s great start to 2023, though, Vettel still doesn’t “regret” leaving F1, with the German having known that they were going to be stronger anyway this season.
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“I don’t regret (leaving F1 and Aston Martin). The first thing, of course, is joy, which is more important than anything else,” Vettel said at the Bio Bienen Apfel event.
“I know the team very well from the last few years and I’m happy that they are doing so well. That 2023 was going to be a better year than last season I think was obvious, because last year was pretty bad, so it was expected.
“Of course, you never know what the others are doing, but it was going to be better. But no matter what’s happening now, I thought it through and made my decision, regardless of how things might have gone this year.”