Michael Jordan Set the Bar Too High for International Athletes Making F1 Titan Fall to His Knees: “I Failed”

NBA legend Michael Jordan has inspired many to take up the sport and excel on the court. The example he has set through his sheer determination and skill is second to none. However, the former Chicago Bulls player was also an inspiration to sportspersons from other fields and one of them was F1’s Sebastian Vettel.

Sebastian Vettel had one of the most dominant runs Formula 1 has ever seen. The German driver won 4 consecutive titles between 2010 to 2013. Jordan, in his own respect, had among the best purple patches in NBA, achieving three peats twice with Chicago Bulls. While now at 59 Jordan is the chairperson of the Charlotte Hornets, Vettel just retired from F1 after the 2022 season.

Sebastian Vettel admitted to failing to replicate 3 ‘Michaels’

Ever since his 4 successive championship run, Sebastian Vettel could not win the title again. Even during his time with Ferrari, Vettel came close to winning the trophy in a couple of seasons. However, the juggernaut of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes was too dominating to reckon with. He finally ended his career with Aston Martin, where he finished mid-table, just like his team.

In a press conference during the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP weekend, Sebastian told, “[At] some point I wanted to become like Michael Jordan, I failed. At some point, I wanted to become like Michael Jackson, I failed. And at some point, I wanted to become like Michael Schumacher. I also failed but I think I got probably the closest out of the three.”

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Seb aspiring to be like Michael Schumacher was only natural as both come from the same country, Germany. Growing up Vettel must have idolized his countryman given the cult status he was building in the sport. While Schumacher retired at the end of the 2006 season, Seb started his career the same year in F1 as a test driver for BMW Sauber.

Sebastian Vettel revealed how genetics stopped him from following Michael Jordan’s steps

In another press conference session in 2021, a young fan, through a video message, asked Sebastian if he always aspired to be a Formula 1 pilot. Vettel told at first he wanted to be like Michael Jackson, but did not have the singing skills. He then joked how he was inspired by Michael Jordan but looking at his parents and grandparents, he figured out he wouldn’t make it.

He said, “I loved basketball at some point. I was a huge fan of Michael Jordan, but I looked at my father, looked at my mother, looked at my grandparents and I figured, probably not.”

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All three ‘Michaels’ were pioneers in their respective fields. They continue to inspire newer generations as they discover their talents. We have no doubt Sebastian Vettel has left a lasting legacy in Formula 1.