Vettel brutally honest with himself: 'I am the biggest hypocrite'
F1 News
Sebastian Vettel has long been an advocate for environmental awareness, but he is also aware of the contradiction in his past as a Formula 1 driver, frequently travelling the world. In an interview with Tages-Anzeiger, the Swiss publication, the four-time world champion openly admitted that he considers himself a hypocrite in this regard.
Sebastian Vettel has been out of Formula 1 since 2022 but remains highly visible, largely due to his strong advocacy for environmental awareness—a cause close to his heart. The German driver won four consecutive world championships with Red Bull Racing from 2010 to 2013 before moving to Ferrari for five seasons and later spending two years with Aston Martin. Having experienced nearly everything the sport has to offer, Vettel was recently asked whether his environmental stance contradicts his career in motorsport.
Without hesitation, Vettel openly admitted to the contradiction, acknowledging that his past as an F1 driver and frequent global traveller makes his advocacy appear hypocritical.
Vettel labels himself as a hypocrite
"I have to accept this accusation. And yes, I am the biggest hypocrite there is if I talk about environmental issues and leave such a big ecological footprint at the same time. For years, I flew around the world - and not in economy, but in business or first class. But should I feel bad about that? We will not solve this problem with shame, but rather by facing it and looking for solutions," Vettel explained.
"We are all hypocrites because we also enjoy things we know are not good. Do we necessarily have to go on holiday to Thailand? No. But it is incredibly beautiful there. We should not ban travel, but develop technological capabilities that allow us to do the same as before - only more sustainably," the four-time world champion concluded.
This article was written in collaboration with Esteban den Toom
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