Sebastian Vettel nonetheless loves Formulation 1, however the success has disappeared because the wins have dried up.

After 16 seasons, the final two with a struggling Aston Martin staff, Vettel is retiring and relieved to be leaving, though he nonetheless doesn’t know what he’ll do subsequent.

“I understand how a lot dedication goes into this, and should you do it I’m satisfied you must do it the proper method,” Vettel stated. “The intention has at all times been to win and compete on the entrance, so I don’t get a lot pleasure from being right here and simply being a part of it.”

On Sunday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Vettel, 35, will begin a Grand Prix for the 299th time, as he leaves a sport he entered in 2007.

His profession has yielded 4 world titles, with Purple Bull, and 122 finishes on the rostrum, which embody 53 wins. His final win got here in 2019 in Singapore when he was with Ferrari, the place he spent six seasons.

“I’m very a lot wanting ahead to having nothing scheduled, no commitments,” he stated. “What that does to me? I believe it should do a number of issues to my head, however I’m curious to seek out out what precisely that will probably be.”

Vettel stated he had “plenty of concepts and issues I might like to do.” Over the previous few years, he has shone a highlight on sustainability and the surroundings and spoken out on behalf of the L.G.B.T.Q. neighborhood.

“My concern for the surroundings is without doubt one of the components that undoubtedly performed a job in my choice to retire, seeing the world altering and seeing the long run in a really threatened place for all of us, and particularly for generations to return,” he stated.

“I perceive that a part of my ardour, my job, pertains to issues I’m not a fan of. I’m touring the world, racing automobiles, burning sources. It’s one thing I can’t look away from, and when you see these items, as soon as you might be conscious, I don’t suppose you’ll be able to actually unsee.”

Vettel has helped college students in Austria construct a bee resort, collected garbage from the grandstands at Silverstone after a British Grand Prix and visited a plant in Iceland that collects carbon dioxide from the air.

Earlier than final weekend’s São Paulo Grand Prix, Vettel visited the SOS Mata Atlantica group to be taught in regards to the reforestation of a logging space of Brazil.

“Sooner or later, all of us could have no selection that we’re all going to be activists as a result of we’ve got to actively push to outlive,” Vettel stated. “It sounds actually dramatic, nevertheless it’s one thing that can meet up with us very, very quickly.

“The extra I look and the extra I get into all of this, it’s nice to lift consciousness, to plant a seed and make individuals have a look at what’s happening and assist to know, as a result of when you perceive, you begin to care, and when you care, you’re joyful to assist.”

Formulation 1 has offered Vettel with a platform to voice his opinion. He stated his “views wouldn’t be retired and deserted” as a result of he was retiring.

“It might be the flawed motivation to maintain doing what I’ve at all times accomplished simply to precise an opinion on some subjects,” he stated. “Perhaps I’ll lose voice and attain, however they’ve by no means been on the foreground.”

Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes stated he was “unhappy” to see Vettel go away Formulation 1, as a rival, good friend and fellow activist.

“It has been an sudden relationship and friendship,” stated Hamilton, a seven-time champion. “It’s so troublesome if you end up so aggressive and you might be each combating for one thing you might be keen about.”

He stated Vettel was “one of many very, only a few drivers in racing historical past that has stood for way more than himself.”

“He’s used his voice in issues that I’ve fought for and stood by me. He’s gone on his personal journey and stood on the grid and fought for issues that he believed in, and for the higher good.

“He’s only a actually lovely human being, and I’m actually grateful to have been right here in a time that he was racing.”

Christian Horner, the staff principal of Purple Bull, the place Vettel received his 4 titles from 2010 to 2013, stated he would always remember when Vettel dominated. Vettel holds the report for being the youngest champion, at 23, after successful his first title in 2010.

“He was an enormous a part of our staff and a pleasure to work with,” Horner stated. “He was dedicated and unrelenting in his pursuit of efficiency. In all probability the hardest-working driver I’ve come throughout.

“Past that, only a very nice man. We had so many particular moments, these 4 world championships, there have been days he was simply in a league of his personal. Very particular reminiscences.”

Valtteri Bottas of Alfa Romeo stated Vettel at his peak “was fairly untouchable.”

“He’s had an ideal profession, he’s given rather a lot to the game,” he stated. “However his values in life have modified fairly a bit just lately and now he has tons to provide however for the world.”

Vettel stated he was leaving Formulation 1 with out “any actual regrets.”

“I had a number of highlights, a number of nice races, nice folks that I bought to know and work with,” he stated. He just lately stated that his first win, on the 2008 Italian Grand Prix, stood out: “It was an unbelievable race with unbelievable feelings.”

Vettel stated he had had fun in his profession.

“It’s been a privilege, and I’m very joyful to take all of this, every thing I discovered, every thing I used to be in a position to expertise, all of the help that I bought as nicely to hopefully enhance me within the subsequent chapter.”