“Arigato Gozaimasu Suzuka”, said Sebastian Vettel when he raced at the Japanese GP a year ago. Knowing it was his last race in Japan with retirement around the corner, Seb wanted to absorb every bit of one of his favorite tracks. Ever since then, Vettel has been seen embracing a more serene pace of life post his electrifying F1 career, but with hints at a potential sporadic return to the tracks that made him a legend.

During a casual chat on the F1 Nation podcast) Tom Clarkson asked Silja Rulle about the vibe she got from Vettel during her encounter with him at the Nurburgring. Silja painted a picture of someone who seems to be in a peaceful state of mind, enjoying the uncertainties that life has to offer post-retirement.

“A more relaxed Seb Vettel than the Formula 1 Vettel. So he seemed super relaxed, like very peaceful in mind, maybe, if that’s not too poetic to say it. But he seemed really, really happy and just very well-balanced if that’s the right way to put it,” she emphasized, highlighting his present fascination with exploring unknown facets of life and discovering new sides of himself.

While Vettel maintains a relaxed approach to the idea of a comeback, not ruling it out completely, he cherishes the freedom to choose when and how to engage with the racing world. Currently, he is exploring broader interests including an environmental project at Suzuka. Vettel’s intermittent appearances in the F1 landscape keep the ember of his passion for racing alive, offering a hopeful glimpse to fans of a potential joy-driven return to the tracks, albeit on his terms.

As Vettel enjoys this phase of personal growth and re-encounters with the F1 universe, there’s one place where the racing legend holds a deep, solitary reverence for his celebrated career — his home.

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In the sanctuary of a champion: Sebastian Vettel’s solo trophy exhibit

You might imagine that a four-time world champion would have a house brimming with glistening accolades. Not Sebastian Vettel. The German F1 legend prefers a minimalist approach when it comes to showcasing his spoils of victory. His vast collection of 53 race wins and 57 pole positions across a 15-year magnificent run with teams like Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Ferrari, and Aston Martin, are relegated to storage; all except for one cherished memento.

“In my home, I don’t have a single – I have one trophy in the house, which is the world championship in 2010,” Vettel shared in a recent candid chat with Sky Sports Germany. During this heart-to-heart, Vettel conveyed that the majority of his trophies found their resting place in boxes, tucked away and out of sight. A labor of love earlier this year saw the champ finally organizing this treasure trove into a designated room.

But why the 2010 championship trophy? Why does this solitary accolade get the place of honor in the Vettel residence?

So, while Vettel’s trophy room might echo with a quieter grandeur, the living room reverberates with stories of a monumental beginning — a constant, humble reminder of where it all started, from a man who has seen and conquered it all in the world of Formula 1.

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