Vettel plays down retirement rumours
Sebastian Vettel has moved to play down rumours linking him with retirement.
After Canada, where he lost victory with a controversial time penalty, the German declared: "This is not the sport I fell in love with."
With pressure from Charles Leclerc and amid Ferrari's lack of competitiveness, it prompted suggestions the 31-year-old is preparing to quit.
But Vettel said in Austria: "I'm in Formula 1 because I love to race.
"These modern cars are very fast and fun to drive," German media quotes him as saying. "Are there things we can do better? I think yes.
"But I am driving now and, as far as I know, I will drive next year."
One suggestion is that Vettel's title chances might get a boost if a push to revert to Pirelli's 2018 tyres is successful.
"We will find out tomorrow morning," he said, referring to the key meeting with Pirelli that has been called for Friday.
"It's fair to say that we are having more problems with the tyres than Mercedes is."
But also true is that Ferrari is struggling to develop its car, with Vettel calling some of the new parts introduced in France a week ago a "failure".
"It's not necessary to deny that we didn't get what we hoped for in France," he said.
"I hope that the picture will become clearer this weekend and we are able to move on."
Until then, he is not writing off the title.
"I don't look back, only forwards. We just hope that our upgrades will work. Then we'll see," said Vettel.
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Vettel has lost the plot. He knows he can't win the Championship. He should retire and let the real drivers have a go
Interesting reasoning. Of the current grid only three drivers have been Champions: Raikkonen, Hamilton and Vettel. By your logic what should the rest of the grid do? Aren't they, then, all barking up the wrong tree, and the teams deluding themselves year in year out?
By most comments, and the gratuitous advice offered him, Vettel's sole goal in life seems to be to beat Hamilton. Everybody, in a way, wants to be a champion, to be the best, but the reasoning of "beat Hamilton or else...." says less about Vettel than about those who make such statements.
Then according to you logic, all drivers who are not in a position to win the championship should retire. Sounds pretty dumb, and by the way, should they retire immediately or at the end of the season?
You, clearly, totally misunderstood what I said.
My error, I was trying to reply to the post just prior to yours. I actually agree with you, but not with Janet Russell.
What 'plot'? According to you logic, all drivers who are not in a position to win the championship should retire. Sounds pretty dumb, and by the way, should they retire immediately or at the end of the season?
Target, Vettel's main target in now to stay ahead of Leclerc (using team orders again if necessary) failure to do this will only intensify the pressure on himself.
Like most posters, you judge the situation by logic of "what would I do if I were in his situation?"
You are staking way to much on the proposition that the whole F-1 season a personal vendetta in 21 installments. By you Vettel (and just about any other driver) has no reason to live except to beat a designated nemesis (Hamilton in Vettel's case) and have an exit strategy (beat Leclerc.)
You have the luxury to speculate, however implausibly - Vettel enjoys driving.
ehhhh? Listen to any F1 driver and one of their main targets is beating their team mate, especially if he's new to the team and you're supposed to be No 1.
It's not speculation it's fact no matter how many ways you try to side step the issue. Oh and of course Vettel enjoys driving an F1 car, who wouldn't?
Yes, that is true. It's like asking: does Pope shit in the woods? More or less teammates drive comparable equipment. They are each other's implied benchmark. So, it is natural to want to match or to outperform the benchmark. Reading into it all sorts of personal configurations, animosities, pressure, etc., is simply too speculative.
You've done too many anti-Hamilton rants to be reasoned with and I think you losing it. Firstly you bring Hamilton into the story, again, then when Vettel's problems are pointed out (Leclerc) you agree but rant again
OK then,
Ok then, but why, then, do you sound so familiar?
Ferrari will decide when Seb is no longer required by them and then if no other team wants him he'll find something else very easily to continue with. Nico son of Keke is the only champ I can think of in recent times to suddenly retire and that's not Seb who won 4 times. Dream on wankers...