Sebastian Vettel has announced he will retire from Formula 1 at the end of the 2022 season.
The German made his debut replacing Robert Kubica at the US Grand Prix in 2007, before joining Toro Rosso later that season.
In 2009, Vettel was called up to Red Bull replacing David Coulthard and would go on to claim four consecutive world championships between 2010-2013.
The introduction of hybrid engines in 2014 saw Vettel and Red Bull’s dominance end and Seb would make his dream move to Ferrari for 2015, following his hero Michael Schumacher.
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Despite 14 wins over six seasons, the partnership wasn’t able to bring championship success back to Maranello, and in 2021, Vettel moved on to Aston Martin where has spent the past two years.
However, with results largely disappointing, the 35-year-old has decided now is the time to call time on his career after 15 years on the grid.
“I have had the privilege of working with many fantastic people in Formula 1 over the past 15 years – there are far too many to mention and thank,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
“Over the past two years I have been an Aston Martin driver – and, although our results have not been as good as we had hoped, it is very clear to me that everything is being put together that a team needs to race at the very highest level for years to come.
“I have really enjoyed working with such a great bunch of people. Everyone – Lawrence, Lance, Martin, Mike, the senior managers, the engineers, the mechanics and the rest of the team – is ambitious, capable, expert, committed and friendly, and I wish them all well.
“I hope that the work I did last year and am continuing to do this year will be helpful in the development of a team that will win in the future, and I will work as hard as I can between now and the end of the year with that goal in mind, giving as always my best in the last 10 races.”
Speculation has been building over Vettel’s future in recent months, with signs that he wanted to continue at Aston Martin.
However: “The decision to retire has been a difficult one for me to take,” he conceded, “and I have spent a lot of time thinking about it.
“At the end of the year, I want to take some more time to reflect on what I will focus on next; it is very clear to me that, being a father, I want to spend more time with my family. But today is not about saying goodbye.
“Rather, it is about saying thank you – to everyone – not least to the fans, without whose passionate support Formula 1 could not exist.”
