Vettel was “close” to retiring from F1 before Aston Martin deal
Sebastian Vettel has admitted that he came 😼“close” to retiring from 🌄Formula 1 altogether after losing his Ferrari seat for the 2021 season.
Vettel was not offered fresh terms by Fe💝rrari for next season, leaving him out of contract and without a drive at the end of the year.
But on Thursday morning it was confirmed that the four-time world champion would be switching to Aston Martin for 2021 w✅hen it rebrands from the Racing Point team to replace Sergio Perez.
SEE ALSO: Can 'perfect' Vettel help make Aston Martin front-runners in F1?
Asked how close he had come to retiring from F1 during the driver🎃s press conference ahead of this weekend’s Tuscan Grand Prix, which marks Ferrari’s 1000th GP, Vettel replied: “Close.”
“I don’t know if there was a measure of how close you can get, but it was close in terms of having a lot of thoughts and deciding ultimately I ha𒁏ve to put myself first in that regard, what’s best for me.
“And what I have decided now I believe that’s best🌞 for me and I’m looking forwa☂rd to prove that.”
Vettel believes the Silverstone-based outfit is well-placed to capitalise on F1’s upcoming regulation overhaul and already🌺 has strong foundations in place𒊎 for short-term success.
“If you are fair right now with the judgement🐽 then obviously M☂ercedes has the edge over everybody,” he said.
“That’s not just🎀 valid for next ye♓ar, they are probably in a very strong position for next year and the years after that.
“It’s a very exciting challenge and I’m looking forward to it. I want to ✤race at the front of the grid, not at ▨the back of the grid, and the team is giving me that chance.
“I think the t🃏eam is ready✱ to grow and I’m happy to do those things together.
“♊There is still some exciting news in the short-term, if you look at next year, the first year wit♚h the budget cap, we will see how it works and pans out.
“I think the team already this year is a much better ♏place than in the past. It’s a team that is growing, while other teams have to grow down in size, if you look at all the big teams.
“So there’s lots of things whi🌺ch make me quite confident and happy but only time can tell.
“It’s an exciting project and I’m sure we will fight for some good results 💖in the near-future and in the future after that.”
Lewis regularly at♉tends Grands Prix for wuqian0821.com around the world. Often reporting on the action from the ground, Lewis tells the stories of the people who matter in the sport.
