Four-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel announces retirement

Four-time Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel has announced he will retire from the sport at the end of the season.

Aston Martin's German driver Sebastian Vettel answers a journalist's question during a press conference on the eve of the start of the Formula One French Grand Prix 2022, on the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, southern France, on July 21, 2022. - The French Formula 1 Grand Prix will play an important card for its future from July 22 to July 24 on the Castellet circuit, with an unprecedented mobility plan for the 200,000 spectators expected. (Photo by Sylvain THOMAS / AFP)

Sebastian Vettel has announced he will retire from Formula One at the end of this season.

The four-time world champion took to his newly-created Instagram account on Friday to reveal he would be hanging up his helmet at the end of his 2022 campaign with Aston Martin.

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In a heartfelt video, Vettel said he still loves F1 but his passion for the sport no longer aligns with his wish to spend more time with his family and his environmental interests.

“I have grown other interests outside Formula One,” he said.

“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 a car and the team to chase perfection takes focus and commitment.

“My passion comes with certain aspects that I’ve learned 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.”

“The decision to retire has been a difficult one for me to take, and I have spent a lot of time thinking about it,” Vettel said in a statement.

“At the end of the year I want to take some more time to reflect on what I will focus on next; it is very clear to me that, being a father, I want to spend more time with my family.”

Sebastian Vettel is hanging up his helmet. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)

There had been speculation in recent weeks Aston Martin had been edging closer to extending Vettel’s contract for another season.

Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll said: “We made it clear to (Vettel) that we wanted him to continue with us next year, but in the end he has done what he feels is right for himself and his family, and of course we respect that.”

Vettel won his first Grand Prix in 2008 and went on to win the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 world titles with Australian Mark Webber as his teammate.

At the age of 23, Vettel became the youngest driver to win an F1 world title when he claimed the first of his four-peat of championships in 2010.

He has the third most race wins in F1 history (53), behind only Michael Schumacher (91) and Lewis Hamilton (103).

Vettel left Red Bull to join Ferrari in 2015 and challenged Mercedes for the title on several occasions but always ended up falling short during his six-year stint with the Scuderia.

He then made the move to Aston Martin in 2021, but has struggled to make an impact in the midfield battle.

The 35-year-old is currently 14th overall in this year’s drivers’ championship.

So long Seb, you’ll be missed. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)

Vettel, one of the more socially and environmentally conscious drivers on the grid, has long been an advocate for action on climate change and has been part of F1’s push to become more eco-friendly.

He was one of the first drivers to declare he would boycott the Russian Grand Prix and has worn a helmet in support of Ukraine. He has also called for F1’s gruelling 23-race calendar to be reduced.

Vettel caused a stir at the Miami Grand Prix in May when he highlighted the issue of climate change by wearing a T-shirt with the message: “Miami 2060. 1st Grand Prix under water. Act now or swim later.”

A fan favourite, he protested the FIA’s fire-proof safety standards by wearing his underpants over the top of his racing overalls.

There were also hilarious scenes at this year’s Australian Grand Prix when Vettel rode around the track at Melbourne’s Albert Park on a motorbike waving to the fans after his car broke down in practice.