Tributes have been paid to German driver Sebastian Vettel after he announced his intention to retire from the sport of Formula 1 at the end of the 2022 season.
The 35-year-old won four successive Driver's Championships for Red Bull between 2010 and 2013 in a successful sixteen-year F1 career.
The German released a heartfelt statement earlier to explain his decision.
I have had the privilege of working with many fantastic people in Formula One over the past 15 years – there are far too many to mention and thank
The decision to retire has been a difficult one for me to take, and I have spent a lot of time thinking about it.
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.
But today is not about saying goodbye. Rather, it is about saying thank you – to everyone – not least to the fans, without whose passionate support Formula One could not exist.
Vettel currently sits in 12th position in the Driver's Championships ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix. For the past two years he has been driving for Aston Martin and only last week rumours were rife that he would join McLaren to replace Daniel Ricciardo.
Tributes paid to Sebastian Vettel ahead of retirement
Amongst the current drivers to pay tribute to Vettel today was seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. In 11 of their 16 seasons together on the grid, either Hamilton or Vettel has become world champion.
Seb, it’s been an honour to call you a competitor and an ever greater honour to call you my friend. Leaving this sport better than you found it is always the goal. I have no doubt that whatever comes next for you will be exciting, meaningful, and rewarding. Love you, man. pic.twitter.com/eHVmOpov2m
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) July 28, 2022
Teams and other F1 personalities have also paid tribute to the German.
Danke, Seb 👏 Cheers for the great times and the four World Championships 🏆🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/Z2D2igIJg1
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) July 28, 2022
NEWS: Sebastian Vettel will retire from #F1 at the end of the 2022 season, bringing one of the greatest careers in the history of the sport to a close.
Read more from Sebastian, Lawrence Stroll and Mike Krack. ⬇️— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) July 28, 2022
Farewell Seb, It’s been an absolute pleasure and privilege to witness your F1 career and many successes. Congratulations on everything and good luck with the next chapter of your life, and I’m sure we’ll be hearing much more from you. MB https://t.co/rBKbjNrrFa
— Martin Brundle (@MBrundleF1) July 28, 2022
I’m so sad that you’re leaving, but at the same time excited for you and this new chapter of your life. You’ve been and still are such an important person to me and I’m thankful for our friendship. pic.twitter.com/1iFmlxxgyQ
— Mick Schumacher (@SchumacherMick) July 28, 2022
An incredible career and one of the best driver I've raced with. And Seb is one of the best person you can meet. F1 will miss you my friend https://t.co/oYGMcykwxW
— Romain Grosjean (@RGrosjean) July 28, 2022
Vettel moved to Aston Martin when the team returned to racing for the first time in sixty years at the start of 2021 season. The British team have struggled for results since and Vettel has decided to step away from the sport rather than continue for another season.
“Over the past two years I have been an Aston Martin driver – and, although our results have not been as good as we had hoped, it is very clear to me that everything is being put together that a team needs to race at the very highest level for years to come," Vettel said.
“I have really enjoyed working with such a great bunch of people.
“I hope that the work I did last year and am continuing to do this year will be helpful in the development of a team that will win in the future, and I will work as hard as I can between now and the end of the year with that goal in mind, giving as always my best in the last 10 races.”
Certainly the end of an era.
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