"I hereby announce my retirement from Formula One by the end of the 2022 season."
When Sebastian Vettel posted this on social media, the entire F1 world was stunned. Once hailed as “the next Michael Schumacher,” Vettel leaves behind a career boasting 53 wins, 57 pole positions, 122 podium finishes, the second-highest points total in F1 history, and four world championships—achievements earned through a career filled with both glory and struggle.
Born on July 3, 1987, in Heppenheim, Germany, Vettel grew up in an ordinary family. His father, Norbert, was an amateur mountain bike enthusiast, and his mother, Heike, nurtured his childhood alongside two sisters and a younger brother. At just two years old, his father took him to a karting track and built a track in their backyard for him to race. As his driving skills improved, his father increased the difficulty with obstacles and took him to compete across Germany. At age eight, Vettel entered his first karting race, impressing spectators by controlling a dry-weather setup with precision in wet conditions.
To support his dream, his father modified kart engines, while his mother drove him to racetracks across the country on weekends. By age eleven, he was signed by the Red Bull Junior Team, becoming their youngest contracted driver. Michael Schumacher himself noticed the young talent, presented him with trophies, and even funded his participation in international competitions.
In 1998, at just eleven years old, Vettel won the Italian Karting Championship, becoming its youngest champion. By 2001, he had claimed both the German and European Junior Karting titles. In 2004, at seventeen, he stunned the motorsport world with 17 wins out of 18 races in Formula BMW. In 2006, he became a BMW Sauber test driver and replaced the injured Robert Kubica at the Hungarian Grand Prix, scoring a point on debut and becoming the youngest point-scorer in F1 history.
Vettel entered Formula One full-time in 2007 with Toro Rosso. In 2008, at Monza, he produced a miracle drive, storming from 17th on the grid to finish fourth. The following year, he was promoted to Red Bull Racing. In 2010, under immense pressure in the Abu Dhabi season finale, Vettel took victory to secure his first world title and deliver Red Bull’s first Constructors’ Championship.
From 2010 to 2013, Vettel dominated the sport, claiming four consecutive championships. His 2013 season included nine consecutive wins—a record—and cemented him as the youngest four-time world champion in F1 history.
In 2014, Vettel made a bold move to Ferrari, chasing his childhood dream of winning in the iconic red car. While he claimed a victory in Malaysia and produced brilliant drives such as his pole-to-flag triumph in Hungary in 2017, Ferrari’s performance lagged behind Mercedes. His home race at the 2018 German Grand Prix ended in heartbreak after a tire-choice mistake sent him off track. With Charles Leclerc’s rise and shifting team dynamics, Vettel’s position weakened, and in 2020 Ferrari announced they would not renew his contract.
In 2021, Vettel joined Aston Martin alongside Lance Stroll. Despite the team’s limited competitiveness, he scored a memorable second place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix—Aston Martin’s first podium since rejoining F1—and won the season’s “Overtake Award” for the most overtakes.
By 2022, Vettel was often in the midfield and lower points positions. At the Abu Dhabi finale, the 35-year-old crossed the line in tenth place, bringing an end to his 16-year F1 career. Post-retirement, he has dedicated himself to environmental causes, investing in renewable energy and calling for F1 to reduce its carbon footprint.
Vettel’s career was far from flawless, with his dominant Red Bull era sharply contrasting his struggles at Ferrari. Yet his four world titles, 53 wins, and unmatched dedication secure his place among the top 10 greatest drivers in F1 history.
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