Sebastian Vettel Reflects on His Final Seasons at Ferrari

Sebastian Vettel has acknowledged that in his final seasons with Ferrari, he was already “on his way down.”

Vettel joined the iconic team in 2015 after a successful six-year tenure at Red Bull, where he won four world championships. He quickly became Ferrari’s leading driver, achieving 13 grand prix victories over four years, contrasting with teammate Kimi Raikkonen‘s single win.

Though he competed for the title in 2017 and 2018, leading the championship for a significant portion, he ultimately lost to Lewis Hamilton both times. The dynamics shifted when Charles Leclerc entered in 2019, quickly surpassing Vettel in points and wins.

Reflecting on his career in a recent episode of the Beyond the Grid podcast, Vettel stated, “I came to Formula 1 in 2006, and I would say by 2010, I was at my peak. Despite strong performances until 2018, by 2019 and 2020, I could feel I was on the decline.” He further noted that he lost his competitive edge, admitting, “I didn’t have that last ultimate push anymore.”

Vettel attributed part of his struggles to the youthful energy of Leclerc, contrasting it with his own diminished motivation. “Charles was thrilled to finish fifth or sixth, which made me realize I was struggling at that point,” he explained. The pandemic year of 2020 also gave him a chance to reflect on personal aspects of life, further contributing to his awareness of life’s challenges.

Nevertheless, he accepted a new challenge with the Aston Martin team, formerly known as Force India. “I was seeking reassurance that I could still compete,” Vettel shared, revealing his vulnerable side and that even greats like Michael Schumacher experienced similar insecurities.

During his final two seasons with Aston Martin, Vettel was the team’s lead driver before retiring, with his last podium finish occurring in Baku during the 2021 season. “Even at this point, I was not the peak performance I once was, but I found comfort in my driving again,” he concluded.