Formula 1: Press comments on Vettel’s resignation: “One of the greats”

After Sebastian Vettel’s resignation announcement, the international media wrote with respect about the four-time Formula 1 world champion.

Great Britain

Telegraph: “Sebastian Vettel was the principled but stubborn star who made Red Bull F1 royalty. Whether Vettel ranks among the top 20 drivers of all time is debatable, but the affection shown by his peers is undeniable. The German (…) has always been a bit different (…) Vettel was in many ways an odd choice to lead a cheeky young Red Bull team that was all about image and branding. But they were undoubtedly a brilliant combination.”

“Independent”: “From climate activist and campaigner for LGBT+ rights to garbage collector and war critic, Sebastian Vettel has long seen himself as more than just a racing driver. Today’s inevitable announcement that the youngest F1 world champion in history will be at the end of this season set to retire, however, has shocked many.(…) After a 300th and final Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi in November – a fitting number to conclude – the German’s wide-ranging interests and passions could frankly take him anywhere. Pit lane, politics, activism, philanthropy, media – you name it. Vettel has the world at his feet and – to quote the man himself – there is one more race to be won. Only time will tell what that race will be like.”

“Daily Mail”: “So where does he stand in the pantheon? Given his failure to win a title in five years at Ferrari and his gradual failures mean that while he would warrant inclusion in a list of the sport’s top 20 drivers, but wouldn’t seriously threaten my top 10. He’s probably the third best of his time. (Lewis) Hamilton and Fernando Alonso are ahead of him.”

Italy

“Gazzetta dello Sport”: “The day on which a driver who has won four Formula 1 world championships and driven for Ferrari for six years announces his retirement can only cause melancholy. (…) In the course of the Vettel has also brought something else to Formula 1, which he loved so much: the maturity of a family man, the sensitivity of someone who has always paid attention to social issues, the courage of someone who is ready to face any To fight discrimination. (…) It is no coincidence that yesterday, after the announcement of his retirement, the whole GP world (and not only) had only nice words for him. It’s hard not to share them.”

Switzerland

“Blick”: “Vettel, who has often caused offense with his actions in recent years, is simply fed up, wants to be a role model for his growing children and the promises that it will be better in 2023, when the purchased engineers from Mercedes and Red Bull are supposed to make the car faster, Vettel was not enough of a guarantee for success.”

“Neue Zürcher Zeitung”: “Motorsport is losing a great athlete – and a responsible athlete. Something has died out. Since he left Red Bull Racing, where he was the first home-made champion at the beginning of the 10s and thus the model for Max Verstappen was no longer really happy.”