Sebastian Vettel recently revisited the most significant moments of his Formula 1 career, from his first world championship to his time at Ferrari, pinpointing the year that marked a turning point in his journey.
The German driver raced his final F1 event in 2022 with Aston Martin. Over his career, Sebastian Vettel won four consecutive world titles with Red Bull, establishing himself as one of the sport’s greats. Even after retiring from the pinnacle of motorsport, Sebastian Vettel often appears in the paddock for special initiatives, such as F1REST. In a detailed interview on the official F1 channel’s podcast Beyond the Grid, he reflected on the key years of his career, including his debut championship, joining Ferrari, and the moment he identifies as his turning point.
The year of self-awareness
Looking back, Sebastian Vettel identifies 2018 and 2019 as the pivotal seasons when he felt a shift within himself. During the podcast, the four-time world champion explained: “I started the season and went to the first race, but I felt like I didn’t want to go. I definitely wanted to race, but I didn’t want to travel. What are we even talking about? I asked myself: ‘Do I love all this?’ Of course. So I went.”
The first reflections began in 2018, and 2019 deepened them. Sebastian Vettel added: “In 2019, perhaps, it was also the time when the kids started being old enough to say: ‘Dad, don’t go.’”
Early in 2019, the same doubts from 2018 resurfaced. Sebastian Vettel stated: “2019 was a strange year because our car was okay, our engine was very, very good. We struggled to make progress as a team. We were actually closing the gap and becoming stronger in car development, especially in the second half of the season, and I really wanted to win the championship with Ferrari. I wanted it so badly, but it didn’t happen.” He added, “2019 was a kind of turning point year for me because I started to feel that we weren’t making it, that we weren’t good enough.”
From a fading world title dream to Charls Leclerc’s arrival
2019 also marked the arrival of Charles Leclerc at Ferrari. Two drivers at completely different career stages: Sebastian Vettel already a multi-world champion, and Leclerc in only his second F1 season. Sebastian Vettel emphasized this contrast: “Charles arrived, he had so much energy. Completely in two different phases of a career. I was a bit spoiled, I had won four world championships, so many races, so many poles, and all I cared about was winning.”
He reflected further: “Leclerc came in, and when we finished fifth or sixth, he was over the moon because he was in a different phase of his career and his first time in a competitive car. So yes, I think that was when I started having some difficulties.”
It’s a remarkably candid reflection from a driver who once seemed unbreakable. The contrast between Charles Leclerc’s wide-eyed excitement and Sebastian Vettel’s growing frustration perfectly captures why 2019 became the season that quietly changed everything for the German – and set the stage for his eventual departure from Maranello and, ultimately, from Formula 1 itself.
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