In 2010, a German became Formula 1’s youngest world champion, a record that stands to date. Sebastian Vettel ruled the track during the peak of his career. Growing up idolizing, Michael Schumacher, Vettel wouldn’t have always wanted to join the elite list of world champions.

With the curtains falling on his 16-year-long illustrious career, Sebastian, in a recent interview, has expressed how he feels he is an exception and reveals how he is different from other drivers in the Rich Man’s Sport.

Norbert, a carpenter and a kart-racing hobbyist, had three other children apart from Sebastian. The responsibility of three other children didn’t let Seb’s father push him to be anything other than his own person. Seb’s little joy in his kart soon became a focal point for the whole Vettel family.

Recalling the early days of his life in an interview with Road & Track, the four-time world champion said, “I didn’t understand at the time how lucky I was,” comparing his childhood with other drivers.

He further added, “I mean, compared to many other drivers, I am an exception. I had a normal childhood.”

“I raced, and I was gone every weekend, but when I wasn’t gone, I was at home. I went to school, I finished school, I finished high school. I did karting, and I think I was as professional about it as a child can be. But the moment I got out of the go-kart, I was in the dirt, I was in the forest.” 

READ MORE: Sebastian Vettel’s Father Reveals the ‘Low Point’ That Prompted the 4-Time World Champion to Consider F1 Retirement

Apart from being a great driver, the Aston Martin driver is also a responsible citizen. He is an activist. The outspoken Sebastian Vettel has really been an advocate for climate change.

Sebastian Vettel shares concern for Global Warming and talks about Greta Thunberg

The German uses different ways to communicate the severity of global warming. Someone walking the same road is Greta Thunberg. The young Swedish environmental activist, Thunberg is suffering from Asperger’s syndrome. For the unknown, Asperger’s Syndrome is a disorder where one loses the ability to socialize effectively.

Talking about Thunberg’s work, the Aston Martin driver said, “I don’t know. Is Greta an activist, or is she just a very concerned citizen of our planet.”

“Greta has Asperger’s syndrome. For her, what’s so confusing—and also so sad—is that I think she’s just very honest about what she feels.”

“For her, our inaction on the climate crisis just doesn’t make sense, because it doesn’t make sense.

“And whereas everybody else is sort of numb to it—we have lives, we have things going on, we have other interests, and all of that—she is just being logical. ‘Why do I need an education when the world is going to be uninhabitable’?” Vettel concluded.

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Vettel is at the end stages of his glorious career. He showed pure grit and determination can take you to great heights. Sebastian will go down as one of the greats to step foot in Formula 1.