Will Sebastian Vettel Follow His F1 Guru Michael Schumacher’s Footsteps Amid Recent Revelation?

Formula 1 approaches the summer break, as such, it is the time when we learn about the driver’s lineup for the next season. Currently, the talk of the town is the retirement of the former world champion, Sebastian Vettel. He announced that 2022 is his last year in the sport and he wants to invest more time in his personal life.

The German has been a constant feature of the F1 grid since his debut in 2007. In his 15 years, he has won 53 races, grabbed 57 pole positions, and stood on the podium 122 times. Notably, he won four consecutive world championships with Red Bull from 2010 to 2013.

After so many years of being anti-social media, he joined Instagram yesterday and did not wait long before using the platform to bid farewell to the pinnacle of motor sport. With a heavy heart, he shared the reason behind hanging his helmet and closed a chapter in his life.

 He said “I love this sport, it has been central to my life since I can remember. But as much as there is life on track, there is my life off track, too. Being a racing driver has never been my sole identity. I very much believe in identity by who we are and how we treat others, rather than what we do. Who am I? I am Sebastian, father of three children and husband to a wonderful woman.”

“Next to racing, I have grown a family and I love being around them. I have grown other interests outside of Formula 1. My passion for racing and Formula one comes with lots of time spent away from them and takes a lot of energy. Committing to my passion the way I did and the way I think it is right, does no longer go side by side with my wish to be a great father and husband.” 

“The energy it takes to become one with the car and the team, to chase perfection takes focus and commitment. My goals have shifted from winning races and fighting for championships.” 

“To see my children grow, passing on my values, helping them up when they fall, listening to them when they need me, not having to say goodbye, and most importantly, being able to learn from them and let them inspire me. Children are our future.” The German racing driver added. 

Vettel is not the alone German driver who has won multiple world championships, retired from F1 to focus on his personal life, and has raced in the Ferrari racing suit. His idol, Michael Schumacher, left the premier racing league for a similar reason in 2006.

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Schumacher said “At the end of this year, I’ve decided together with the team that I’m going to retire from racing,  All these years in Formula One have been amazing, especially those spent alongside my friends in the Scuderia (Ferrari). Soon my future will belong to my family, while I am happy to be still part of Ferrari. But for now, what matters is this world championship,”

Will Sebastian Vettel return to F1?

For a long time, Vettel has looked up to Michael Schumacher being his idol in the racing world. If the 35-year-old is to draw any inspiration from his role model, then he can make a return on the grid soon.

Schumi retired and was on the sidelines for 3-years. However, you can not take the competitive nature out of a racer and that drew the seven-time world champion back to the grid. Reportedly, he was ‘bored’ and that made him put on the race suit once again. He joined the newly formed German team, Mercedes in his quest for the 8th world title.

Presently, the talk of the F1 paddock is the Volkswagen group aiming to be part of the sport. The German manufacturer aims to enter with its umbrella companies Audi and Porsche. The 2026 rules change eliminates the MGU-H component of the engine, which is a boost for new manufacturers.

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If the talks remain true and we see a new team on the grid, they would require fast racing drivers to help them score points. Who better to race in a German camp than a local four-time world champion with years of experience behind him? Henceforth, come the next rule change, we might see Vettel make a comeback to his passion.

After all these years, he has given us so many special memories that we hold dear. We wish the F1 megastar all the very best in the second chapter of his life and hope to see him carry his big smile wherever he goes next. Danke Schon Seb.

What is your favorite Sebastian Vettel memory? Let us know.