Motorsport Off Topic Thread

Seb's full statement:

Sebastian Vettel said:
I hereby announce my retirement from Formula One by the end of the 2022 season.

Probably I should start with a long list of people to thank now. But I feel it is more important to explain the reasons behind my decision.

I love this sport, it has been central to my life since I can remember. But as much as there is life on track, there is my life off track too. Being a racing driver has never been my sole identity. I very much believe in identity by who we are and how we treat others, rather than what we do.

Who am I?

I am Sebastian, father of three children and husband to a wonderful woman. I am curious and easily fascinated by passionate or skilled people. I am obsessed with perfection. I am tolerant and feel we all have the same rights to live, no matter what we look like, where we come from and who we love.

I love being outside. I love nature and its wonders. I'm stubborn and impatient. I can be really annoying. I like to make people laugh. I like chocolate and the smell of fresh bread. My favourite colour is blue. I believe in change and progress, and that every little bit makes a difference. I am an optimist and I believe people are good.

Next to racing, I have grown a family and I love being around them. I have grown other interests outside Formula One. My passion for racing and Formula One comes with lots of time spent away from them and takes a lot of energy. Committing to my passion the way I did and the way I think it is right does no longer go side by side with my wish to be a great father and husband.

The energy it takes to become one with the car and the team, to chase perfection, takes focus and commitment. My goals have shifted from winning races and fighting for championships, to seeing my children grow, passing on my values, helping them up when they fall, listening to them when they need me, not having to say good bye, and most importantly, being able to learn from them and let them inspire me.

Children are our future. Further I feel there is so much to explore and learn, about life and about myself.

Speaking of the future, I feel we live in very decisive times and how we all shape these next years will determine our lives. My passion comes with certain aspects that I have learnt to dislike. They might be solved in the future but the will to apply that change has to grow much, much stronger, and has to be leading to action today. Talk is not enough, and we cannot afford to wait. There is no alternative. The race is underway.

My best race? Still to come.

I believe in moving forwards and moving on. Time is a one way street and I want to go with the times. Looking back is only going to slow you down.

I look forward to race down unknown tracks and I will be finding new challenges. The marks I left on track will stay until time and rain will wash them away. New ones will be put down. Tomorrow belongs to those shaping today. The next corner is in good hands, as the new generation has already turned in. I believe there is still a race to win.

Farewell, and thanks for letting me share the track with you. I loved every bit of it.
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the-evaluator said:
Because he isn't vaccinated against COVID. Sorry for linking to that hate filled right wing trashy excuse for a news source, it's the first one that came up in a search.
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Ah right. I think I'd heard he wasn't vaccinated but hadn't realised the implications. Wasn't he at the Monaco GP? Is that because the Sky team weren't in the official paddock so he was allowed or because he lives there and can just walk from his flat?
 
MarcLister said:
Ah right. I think I'd heard he wasn't vaccinated but hadn't realised the implications. Wasn't he at the Monaco GP? Is that because the Sky team weren't in the official paddock so he was allowed or because he lives there and can just walk from his flat?
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Yeah, Sky weren't in the actual paddock so he was free to be where they were on the pier or whatever you want to call it
 
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Always liked Vettel but it was his time at RBR and how much he triggered people with his finger that made me love him.

If he were never a rival to Hamilton, people would've warmed to him far quicker but that seems to par for the course for all drivers that rival Hamilton.

He obviously wanted to emulate Schumacher with his move to Ferrari so I'm gutted he never got to emulate the success as well.
 
Joxeon said:
I hated Seb during his early years but now he's become one of my favourite drivers, will be a shame to see him go.
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My opinion of him changed overnight after his appearance on Top Gear for his F1 lap of the track, where he came across as a funny natural doofus with no airs and graces or other media training getting in the way of his natural persona. He just was there to have a laugh. This was in stark contrast to what you *thought* he must be like as a person, given his single minded ruthlessness on the track at the time.
 
Bubo said:
My opinion of him changed overnight after his appearance on Top Gear for his F1 lap of the track, where he came across as a funny natural doofus with no airs and graces or other media training getting in the way of his natural persona. He just was there to have a laugh. This was in stark contrast to what you *thought* he must be like as a person, given his single minded ruthlessness on the track at the time.
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I reluctantly, at the time, thought the same thing. He has definitely mellowed and grownup with age though.
 
Bubo said:
My opinion of him changed overnight after his appearance on Top Gear for his F1 lap of the track, where he came across as a funny natural doofus with no airs and graces or other media training getting in the way of his natural persona. He just was there to have a laugh. This was in stark contrast to what you *thought* he must be like as a person, given his single minded ruthlessness on the track at the time.
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Actually, with hindsight, that's exactly the moment for me as well. I don't think I saw it when it was originally aired, perhaps a couple of years afterwards.
 
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