Wayne Lumbasi
Sebastian Vettel, the youngest driver to win a championship and a four-time Formula One champion, announced his retirement on Thursday. When his contract with Aston Martin expires at the end of the 2022 season, he will withdraw from competition.
He expressed a desire to spend more time with his family while also focusing on environmental issues, to which he has devoted an increasing amount of time in recent years.
“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.
“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.”
Vettel debuted in Formula One in 2007 and reached the pinnacle of his success with Red Bull, winning the world championship every year between 2010 and 2013.
He joined Ferrari in 2015 before making the switch to Aston Martin in 2021. The 35-year-old ranks third in terms of career victories, after Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher.
Vettel has won 53 races in his career, 38 with Red Bull, 14 with Ferrari, and his debut with Toro Rosso at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix.
