Editorials Formula 1

F1: What will Vettel’s Formula One legacy be?

Posted by AR1 staff

Sebastian Vettel confirmed his retirement from Formula One at the end of the 2022 season after a distinguished career in the sport lasting over 16 years. The German won four consecutive Drivers’ Championship crowns, achieving a feat matched only by the great Michael Schumacher. However, after winning his fourth title in 2013, he endured large periods of frustration and fell out of the upper echelons of F1 before opting to quit.

To highlight how far the German has fallen in the pecking order of drivers, those that feel the excitement when online sports betting Canada will have noticed that he had odds of +100000 to win the Hungarian Grand Prix in the 2022 campaign. It has been a dramatic fall from grace for a driver that was untouchable at the peak of his powers. The 35-year-old has left a lasting legacy on the sport, one that will live long in the memory. Unfortunately for Vettel, his performances will always be overshadowed by the greatness of Lewis Hamilton in the same era. The Brit’s brilliance between 2014 and 2020 ensured that he overtook his rival and joined Schumacher on seven Drivers’ Championships, eclipsing the feat of Vettel.

Grand Prix of Bahrain. Image shows the rejoicing of Sebastian Vettel (GER/ Red Bull Racing).  Photo: Getty Images/ Mark Thompson

Vettel has a career of two halves. The first half was a meteoric rise to the top and landing with the dominant outfit of Formula One at the right time, capitalizing on a brilliant vehicle, while using his own special talent behind the wheel to surge towards four-straight crowns.

Although Vettel did have the best car in the field between 2010 and 2013, so did Mark Webber, and the Australian could not match the pace and clinical edge of Vettel. When it mattered the most over that four-year period Vettel was relentless, dominating in 2011 and 2013 finishing well ahead of the chasing pack.

In 2010 and 2012, he was on the spot with his consistency to edge out Fernando Alonso by fine margins, none more so in 2010, his first crown, where he produced back-to-back victories in the final two races of the season.

The second half of Vettel’s career was one of disappointment and failure. He was tasked with bringing glory back to Ferrari after joining the Italian outfit in 2015. However, he was well off the pace in his first two seasons as Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were in the unbeatable Mercedes. Although Ferrari made ground in 2017 and 2018, Hamilton’s brilliance allowed the Brit to sweep aside Vettel’s challenges for the crown with ease, even after the German made bright starts to both seasons.

Vettel’s time with Ferrari ended with a whimper in the 2020 season, placing down in 13th in the standings, mustering only 33 points, the lowest of his career. It was one of Ferrari’s worst seasons in their Formula One history, leaving a stain on the legacy of the German, and not quite the mark he would have anticipated when joining when he would have dreamed of matching Schumacher’s accomplishments with the Italian outfit. At his best, Vettel was truly a special driver and one that will live long in the memory of the sport, but in terms of GOAT status, he has fallen just short.