Sebastian Vettel Unwillingly Accepts “Bad Guy” Tag as He Pays the Price of F1 Sprint Race Protest

He might be retiring at the end of the season, but Sebastian Vettel was not going to go down easy. The 4-time German legend raised questions concerning FIA’s new sprint race schedule. He has been consistently vocal about FIA’s environmental regard for climate change. Vettel along with Lewis Hamilton have raised some important issues against the FIA over the years.

The FIA has held 2 sprint races so far this season in Imola and Austria with the 3rd race set to take schedule in Brazil later this year. Sebastian Vettel complained that racing a Sprint race was not really exciting from a driver’s point of view.

The FIA has further confirmed that there will be 6 sprint races from the start of next season. The location of these races, however, is still unconfirmed. He termed the sole purpose of this move by the FIA as a ‘money-making’ process.

Vettel further stated that the driver’s still prioritized the main race over the sprint races. He added, “the main focus is still on the race. I don’t want to be the bad guy for just being the bad guy, but I think it is just a way to make more money”

The German further said, “If there is a race it is maybe more exciting than just a practice session, you have more people watching. So I guess it is a question of approach and I don’t have the full access and full numbers, but that’s what we were told some while ago.”

READ MORE: “Sebastian Vettel You’ll Be The Death of Me”.. Fans Lose it to Vettel’s Tease About a Potential Documentary 

While F1 set an ambitious target to become carbon neutral by the end of the current decade, its new calendar, with record high 24 races from next year, raises substantial doubts about its objective.

There is a need for an independent body to monitor F1’s progress on sustainability, claims Sebastian Vettel

Aston Martin driver Sebastian Vettel has called for an independent body to govern the progress towards its sustainability claims. He also questioned the FIA’s decision of structuring the calendar for next year’s races. Furthermore, Vettel believes that governing bodies need to be more credible when they make such pledges on sustainability.

Sebastian Vettel questioned about the consequences of nations failing to adhere to the agreements they signed to limit global warming.

The German added, “The real transparent way would be to find an organ to control them, an external independent body, to police them [to see] if they achieve their goals or not. That is the only credible way of doing it.”

WATCH THIS STORY: Breaking Down the Intense Title Battle Between F1 Champions Lewis Hamilton & Sebastian Vettel

Sebastian Vettel raises some important concerns for the FIA to consider. The departing legend unwillingly accepts the “bad guy” image, but leaves the sport with questions that are yet to be answered. Do you agree with Vettel’s view on FIA having 6 sprint races from next year?