?I Wanted to Become Like Michael Jordan, I Failed?: 4-Time F1 Champion Sebastian Vettel, Who Announced His Retirement, Once Humbled Himself with Harsh Reality

Formula One legend Sebastian Vettel once admitted that he used to look up to NBA legend Michael Jordan in his early days. The veteran driver has recently announced his retirement from Formula One. However, he once opened up on how he dreamed of becoming like Michael Jordan as a child but failed to turn it into reality.

Many sports fans around the globe regard Michael Jordan as the greatest basketball player to walk on the earth’s surface. In fact, his intensely competitive nature and sheer dedication to the game of basketball inspired generations of hoopers. Furthermore, lots of people extrapolated the Bulls legend’s philosophy toward basketball and applied it to their respective craft or field of work.

One prominent example is Aston Martin driver Sebastian Vettel. As it turns out, Vettel idolized Michael Jordan as a child and wanted to emulate him. In hindsight, the German driver admitted in an interview that he believes he failed in his pursuit.

Sebastian Vettel wanted to be like Michael Jordan in his early days

Sebastian Vettel admitted in an interview a while ago that he dreamed of becoming like Michael Jordan. “[At] some point, I wanted to become like Michael Jordan,” revealed the former Ferrari driver. “I failed,” he admitted immediately afterward.

Meanwhile, the 35-year-old German also revealed that he wanted to be like Michael Jackson and Michael Schumacher. But he admittedly failed on those pursuits as well.

However, Vettel did accept that he came quite close to Michael Schumacher in terms of achievements. “So, I also failed, but I think I got probably the closest out of the three,” the Aston Martin driver told reporters.

Incidentally, Sebastian Vettel won four F1 world drivers’ championship titles compared to Schumacher’s seven. The former Red Bull driver has also registered the third-most race wins ever in the course of his career. Just behind Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher.

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The German legend inspired comparisons with Schumacher after he became the youngest world champion ever in 2010. Incidentally, both Vettel and Schumacher hail from small German towns and had humble beginnings as youngsters.

Vettel and Jordan

As it turns out, Sebastian Vettel believes he has failed to emulate Michael Jordan in his career. But his four consecutive title wins from 2010 to 2013 are reminiscent of Jordan’s two three-peats with the Chicago Bulls.

However, the German driver failed to sustain his dominance on the track. In fact, he couldn’t get the better of Lewis Hamilton during his stint with Ferrari.

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Nevertheless, Sebastian Vettel has cemented his legacy as an all-time great like Jordan.