Sebastian Vettel shocks with sub-3-hour marathon debut in London at age 38. Sebastian Vettel completes his first London Marathon in 2:59:08 at age 38.

Vettel surprises everyone on marathon debut at 38: former Formula 1 driver goes under 3 hours

Sebastian Vettel chose the 2026 London Marathon to take on a completely different challenge compared to his Formula 1 career. And the result surprised many: the former German driver, a four-time world champion, completed the 42.195 kilometres in 2 hours, 59 minutes and 8 seconds, breaking the three-hour barrier on his debut over the distance.

A highly impressive time for an amateur runner, even more so considering Vettel is 38 years old and retired from Formula 1 at the end of 2022, after his final race with Aston Martin in Abu Dhabi. Since then, he has chosen a quieter life away from the spotlight, focusing on family, environmental causes, charity work, and his new daily routine in Germany. But his physical training, clearly, has never disappeared.

Vettel under three hours at the London Marathon: the former F1 driver’s time

Vettel ran with bib number 45294 and also took part in the race to support two charities: the Brain & Spine Foundation and the Grand Prix Trust, organisations connected to the motorsport world. His marathon was extremely consistent: halfway split in 1:29:18, second half in 1:29:50, and finish in 2:59:08.

The most significant detail is not only the final time, but the way he managed the race. Vettel did not fade in the second half, which is where many first-time marathon runners struggle. He maintained a steady pace all the way to the finish, confirming a very high level of physical preparation. This is also a direct legacy of his Formula 1 years, where the role of the driver evolved: no longer just talent and car control, but also endurance, athletic training, nutrition, and strict daily discipline.

After crossing the finish line, the 1987-born driver described his first marathon experience:

“It felt very long, but it was my first time and I didn’t know what to expect, so it was incredible to see how many people were along the route and how happy everyone was. It was a truly fantastic experience and I’m still very emotional and happy to have completed it.”

Former Ferrari and Red Bull champion still an athlete away from F1

Vettel’s performance confirms how the physical preparation of modern drivers is now close to that of professional athletes. In Formula 1, physical training became central already with Ayrton Senna, later taken to another level by Michael Schumacher. Vettel, who won 4 World Championships and 53 Grands Prix with Red Bull, before also racing for Ferrari and Aston Martin, fully belongs to that generation.

The former German driver did not hide that he prepared for the race with a clear target in mind:

“I have always wanted to run a marathon. Of course I’ve always stayed fit, running and cycling, so I thought the time had come. I set myself an ambitious goal and I managed to achieve it. I wanted to finish in just under three hours, and I did it.”

His performance came on a historic day for the London Marathon, won by Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe in 1:59:30, becoming the first man under two hours in an official marathon. Sebastian Vettel, of course, was running a different race. But for a former F1 driver on debut, finishing under three hours remains an outstanding achievement. And it clearly shows one thing: even far away from Formula 1, the four-time world champion still thinks like an athlete.