Vettel: an excellent driver, but above all a human being according to his colleagues

Sebastian Vettel will be competing in his 299th Grand Prix this weekend. The German driver has made history in Formula 1 by winning four world championship titles and 53 victories, but when the drivers paid tribute to him in the Abu Dhabi paddock, it was to the human being that they were addressing. Indeed, throughout his career, Vettel has placed great importance on the people around him.

A precious advisor

Pierre Gasly spoke to Canal+ about Sebastian Vettel and his response was unequivocal. The AlphaTauri driver spoke about the valuable advice that Sebastian Vettel gave him when he had just won the Formula 2 championship in 2016. The German driver had a long discussion with him about his future and his relationship with Red Bull.

I was impressed by his ability to help young pilots. In addition to being a very good pilot, he is also a very good person.

A true friend.

Daniel Ricciardo had a challenging season in 2022, and he could rely on Vettel’s support during the tough times. He wanted to highlight the kindness of the Aston Martin driver, a great champion who doesn’t hesitate to come and talk to others when needed.

These last years, and especially this year, he has been a true friend. He called me during the tough times. He does much more than what is expected of him. This speaks volumes about who he is and his kindness towards others.

A defender of driver safety

Esteban Ocon is sad to see a legend of the sport leave, but above all a committed advocate for driver safety in the GPDA. Vettel was the leader of this association which defends the interests of drivers and the improvement of safety on track.

« For us in the pilots’ association, he is someone who will fight for our interests. He stands up against people who have power over our safety as pilots. It’s sad to see him go. I hope he won’t be far from us.