Vettel had been considering retiring for years, but only made the decision recently
Vettel had been contemplating quitting Formula 1 for a few months, even years according to him. And he made the decision in his mind only recently. The team itself was only notified of his choice on Wednesday, the day before his announcement. This surprised the paddock, including Esteban Ocon.
During an interview with Canal+, Esteban Ocon expressed his surprise regarding Vettel’s decision. Although, indeed, at his age and with his track record, one could consider stopping, those were not the words he shared with Ocon during a dinner a few weeks ago: “I was surprised. We had dinner together not long ago with Mick [Schumacher] and Seb. I had asked him about his future, and he had told me that he wanted to continue,” explained the French driver.
Indeed, if Vettel had been considering stopping for several months, even a whole season, he only made the decision recently and informed the team on Wednesday.
« I don’t know, maybe I was drunk [when Esteban Ocon asked him the question], jokes the four-time world champion with Red Bull on Canal+ microphone.
« No seriously, I don’t think so, neither Esteban since he doesn’t drink…
« You have known me for a long time now. It’s not something I decided impulsively. I informed the team on Wednesday but I had been thinking about it for months, even years. It took a lot of reflection, but only the future will tell if it’s a good thing.
If we still don’t know what Vettel will do next, he confirms that for now, he wants to spend it with his family: I am ready to do something else, spend more time with my children and family. We’ll see what happens.
