Sebastian Vettel has said that it was he and he alone that decided to call it quits at the end of the current Formula 1 season.
The four-time world champion announced ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix that he would be leaving the sport at the end of the year, with him inadvertently triggering quite the summer saga in terms of the driver market.
Fernando Alonso soon revealed he'd be replacing him at Aston Martin, before things got really interesting as Alpine said they'd be looking to promote Oscar Piastri to take the Spaniard's seat, and we all now know how that went with them still looking for a replacement to drive alongside Esteban Ocon for next year.
Sebastian Vettel: F1 exit all my decision
SPA, BELGIUM - AUGUST 26: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Aston Martin F1 Team prepares to drive in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on August 26, 2022 in Spa, Belgium. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
As for Vettel, though, his fate is decided in terms of him leaving F1 for good at the end of this season, and it just remains to be seen what he is going to be doing next.
Recent rumours have surfaced over the nature of the decision, meanwhile, as to whether it was all his call or whether other people had an influence in the announcement.
Vettel has denied that was the case, though, saying he was the only one to begin the curtain call on his 15-year long spell in Formula 1.
“I made the decision to stop on my own,” Vettel said to Autosprint. “The team and [Lawrence] Stroll had nothing to do with it.”
What next for Sebastian Vettel?
SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA - JULY 09: Sebastian Vettel of Germany driving the (5) Aston Martin AMR22 Mercedes on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on July 09, 2022 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
Vettel has said he isn't quite sure what he is going to get up to during his retirement but he has recently posted to Instagram suggesting that something is in the pipeline to celebrate his career:
There is no doubt that Seb is going to be busy even without F1 in his life from next year, and it's going to be exciting seeing what he can do in his new challenges.
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