What comes after Formula 1?

Sebastian Vettel is not afraid of his Formula 1 farewell in Abu Dhabi. “I've thought about it so many times and it feels so right,” said the four-time Formula 1 world champion in the United Arab Emirates. After 16 years in the premier motorsport class, Vettel wants to get used to a different pace, set his own pace, and find his own rhythm. And dedicate yourself to your family and the environment.

“I’m looking forward to being surprised, learning something about myself, spending more time with my children and my family and learning together with them,” said Vettel before the 299th and final Grand Prix of his great career Sunday. “It will obviously be a different challenge and a different pace for me.”

Sebastian Vettel celebrated his first world title in Abu Dhabi. © APA/afp / FRED DUFOUR

In Abu Dhabi the German comes full circle. Here Vettel won his first world title in the Red Bull in 2010 in a dramatic four-way battle against Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber. At 23 years and 134 days, the former child prodigy, who was actually always just “Seb”, is still there youngest world champion in history. “It will be sad to see him go,” admitted Hamilton. A special career Vettel grew up with three siblings in modest circumstances. He once went looking for sponsors with his father Norbert for his motorsport career when the young Hessian was not yet in Red Bull's talent squad. His father was a fan of Ayrton Senna, while his son Sebastian loved Michael Schumacher, who inspired an entire nation with Formula 1 and triggered an incomparable boom. Vettel entered the stage of the world's largest roundabout at the right time, namely when Schumacher first stepped down at the end of 2006. Formula 1 debut in 2007 in the BMW Sauber, sensational victory in 2008 in the Toro Rosso, world champion from 2010 to 2013 in the Red Bull. Vettel was “untouchable” in these title years, recalled his long-time stable rival Mark Webber. Only Schumacher and Hamilton (seven each) and Juan Manuel Fangio (five) won more titles than the Heppenheimer.

During his time at Red Bull, Vettel dominated Formula 1. © APA/epa / VALDRIN XHEMAJ

Vettel sometimes seems like he's out of time. In a sport that boasts, he is pleasantly unpretentious. Since starting his career in Formula 1, the driver has been making notes on improvements in his notebooks. He only discovered Instagram shortly before the end of his career. Every year he created a photo book for the team members with impressions of the increasingly longer seasons as a Christmas present. The last few years have been a sign of a better world Like Schumacher once did, Vettel wanted to shape an era with Ferrari, but that failed. In 2017 and 2018 he failed in a duel with Mercedes dominator Hamilton. The move to Aston Martin followed in 2021. The thought of leaving became greater. And even then he became increasingly concerned with the topic of human rights and, above all, sustainability. Today, Vettel also reflects on his own conflicted role. “I can understand that,” said the 35-year-old, if one finds his position as a fuel burner and garbage picker on Grand Prix weekends hypocritical. He is disappointed with Formula 1 management. According to Vettel's devastating verdict, the company is becoming involved in technological solutions to environmental problems far too slowly. “We can’t afford to wait.”

Vettel now wants to spend more time with his family in Switzerland and devote himself to his environmental projects. But he doesn't yet know exactly what his new life will look like. He will miss the adrenaline rush. The German rules out the possibility of resigning. "Formula 1 has a way of sucking you back in, we've seen that with so many other drivers," said Hamilton amused and addressed his long-time companion: "It's your last race, but you'll come back."

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What comes after Formula 1?

Sebastian Vettel will contest his last race in the formula on Sunday. This means that one of the greats is leaving motorsport. The four-time F1 world champion also became an activist in the home stretch of his career.

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