Four-time world champion, Sebastian Vettel admits retirement has crossed his mind

Four-time world champion, Sebastian Vettel admits retirement has crossed his mind

Sebastian Vettel

Four time world champion with Red Bull, Sebastian Vettel is one of the most experienced drivers on the grid currently. The German moved on from Ferrari last year, and is now driving for Aston Martin Racing alongside Lance Stroll.

Since the last two years, Sebastian Vettel is no longer competing up top. He managed just one podium finish in whole of 2021, which came in Baku. However, one cannot attribute much fault to Vettel, as his car was severely underdeveloped for the season.

Seeing his counterpart and one time champion, Kimi Raikkonen retire at the end of the season, Sebastian Vettel admitted that thoughts of retirement did cross his mind. However, he has the fire still burning inside him, and he vows to compete for a longer time. The German stated that the day he loses the joy in competing, he will hang up his helmet.

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“Of course, sometimes you ask yourself the question of meaning. I’d be lying if I said the thought hadn’t crossed my mind yet. But I don’t go on just to convey messages. Then I wouldn’t be true to myself and I wouldn’t be as good,” said Vettel on retirement thoughts.

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Sebastian Vettel on trying to improve his car for 2022

Sebastian Vettel
Sebastian Vettel

Sebastian Vettel stated that the day he feels he is in Formula One only to increase his bank balance or convey messages, that day he will quit Formula One.

“If I no longer feel the inner drive and ambition and only stick to it to convey messages or increase the bank balance, that would be a betrayal of the generation that is yet to come and live the dream. After all, I can still take care of certain issues when I’m no longer driving. But the fire is still burning,” said Vettel.

Sebastian Vettel admitted that it was frustrating to not have a faster car last season, but he stated that the situation was not something which threatened one’s life. Hence, he believes that the team must work together in order to provide a better package in 2022, with newer regulations in place.

“As a sportsman, I get annoyed and do everything I can to make it faster. But it’s not life-threatening, that’s true. In that sense, it’s a luxury problem. That doesn’t mean, however, that I don’t want to do everything in my own little sporting microcosm to win. Otherwise it would no longer make sense,” said Vettel as quoted by PlanetF1.

“The motivation is there, we are trying to improve together and the team is trying to turn everything around that is possible. The new rules offer a great opportunity in 2022. But we also have to remain realistic and not talk about being favourites, but look at how good our car is,” he added.

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