Sebastian Vettel has not ruled out the possibility that the 2022 season could be his last in Formula 1, with a decision on his future likely to be made during the summer break. The four-time F1 World Champion stands third on the all-time list of Grand Prix wins (52), behind only Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton. The last multiple World Champion to retire from the sport was countryman and fellow Ferrari legend Schumacher, 10 years ago. But Vettel has acknowledged that the demands of constant travel, whilst leaving a young family at home, are amongst the downsides that have left him wondering whether his time in the sport could soon be up.
Vettel on future: We will see
Vettel says he has not yet decided whether he will call it quits at the end of the 2022 season, despite Aston Martin having made clear that they are keen for him to stay. Talks are expected to ramp up during the summer, he says, at which point he expects a decision to be made. “I enjoy driving the car but there are other things I don't like," he admitted, speaking to PA ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. "After so many years, the usual stuff comes up that you don't understand at the beginning, like the travel. It is very time consuming and I have kids at home and a family, so it equals time away from them. “The future depends on this year and the races that I have coming up. I have not decided yet. The summer is the usual time when you start to talk so we will see.”
"How many times can you win the lottery?"
Vettel explained that he is scared by the thought of retirement after 15 years of racing at motorsport's highest level, as he likened the discovery of his racing talent to having won the lottery. “I have done motor racing for my whole life and it gives you security, in terms of the schedule being made by other people," he added. “I don’t know what life after Formula 1 looks like and I don’t think any sportsperson knows what the next life looks like. You can have certain things lined up but you don't know and that is the truth. “I don't expect to find something tomorrow which I am really good at because I have found something in my life that I am really good at and it is hard to find that again. How many times can you win the lottery?"
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