Sebastian Vettel is a special driver, and there are no two ways about it. Ever since he entered F1, there was a zeal and zing about him that was often self-driven.
He tirelessly worked towards his dreams, and one of those dreams was to drive for Ferrari, following in the footsteps of his idol Michael Schumacher. But what exactly were his earliest memories of the famous ‘Red Car’?
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Sebastian Vettel looked up to the legendary Michael Schumacher
Speaking on the F1: Beyond The Grid podcast, the 33-year-old German stated, “Ferrari means to me childhood memories. I think looking up to Michael when I was young, the red car. My earliest memories of Ferrari is when Michael won.
“It was in the ’96 car when he joined. I think the ’96 car was very ugly and not very successful. But he still managed to do very, very well. We had a glimpse of him driving around at Maranello, and that’s my first memory.”
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Belgian Grand Prix – Spa-Francorchamps, Spa, Belgium – Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel in action during the race Pool via REUTERS/Francois Lenoir
Vettel was only 9 years old when Michael Schumacher jumped ship to Ferrari from Benetton. He had already started go-karting by that time, and the impact Schumacher had on him was beyond measure.
He has made no secret of this fact and has previously admired the tenacity and determination that Schumacher had. And how Vettel tried to instill some of those values in himself, towards becoming a successful driver with a powerful personality.
ALSO READ- Vettel Remembers Michael Schumacher the Person, Not the Driver
Ferrari has been a ‘so close, yet so far’ story for him
Although no one even came close to replicating the Schumacher-Ferrari love affair, Vettel always hoped for a positive partnership. Having joined the team with so much hope and excitement in 2015, he would have envisioned winning at least 1 World Champion title with the Scuderia.
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Belgian Grand Prix – Spa-Francorchamps, Spa, Belgium – Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel wearing a face mask during qualifying Pool via REUTERS/Francois Lenoir
But despite coming close – and sometimes very close, like the 2018 season – he failed to see that dream through. Vettel will move to Aston Martin at the end of the season, to start a new chapter in his racing career.
He will certainly leave Ferrari with fond memories and splendid victories. But come 2021, he might have some regrets about not doing what he dreamed to do.
