Vettel says goodbye to F1: 'I won't have that feeling any more'

Vettel quits and explains choice

After sixteen seasons in Formula 1, Vettel is retiring and although the Aston Martin driver has already explained his reasons in a video on Instagram and in an official press statement, everyone wants to know when the driver knew he was going to stop. Vettel: "Honestly, last year. There is no question that I can answer with 'that's it'. It is a life-changing decision. It is also still hard to grasp. I turn the corner and I don't know what's ahead yet. It feels like the right moment. It really does. I don't feel old or limited yet, it's several things together."

What Vettel was particularly bothered by in recent years was that there was little room in his life for anything other than Formula One: "There's a lot on the horizon. I have many interests and some interests are in racing, others have nothing to do with it. It is still unclear. Even if we have plans, it's no guarantee that it will work and that it will make me happy. It is a great adrenaline rush when you are on the grid and the lights go out. I won't have that any more. I will see how that feels. The possibility is there to continue racing, but I'm not thinking of getting out of this car to get into another one."