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NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JULY 15: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Aston Martin F1 Team and Mick Schumacher of Germany and Haas F1 look on as the prototype for the 2022 F1 season is unveiled during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone on July 15, 2021 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
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NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JULY 15: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Aston Martin F1 Team and Mick Schumacher of Germany and Haas F1 look on as the prototype for the 2022 F1 season is unveiled during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone on July 15, 2021 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
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NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JULY 15: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Aston Martin F1 Team and Mick Schumacher of Germany and Haas F1 look on as the prototype for the 2022 F1 season is unveiled during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone on July 15, 2021 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Getty
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JULY 15: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Aston Martin F1 Team and Mick Schumacher of Germany and Haas F1 look on as the prototype for the 2022 F1 season is unveiled during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone on July 15, 2021 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
It has finally happened!! The day most F1 fans have been dreading has arrived as four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel has announced his retirement from the sport. The Aston Martin driver took to his Instagram account to reveal the information to his fans.
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Vettel‘s decision is seismic but also springs into life in the F1 driver market just at the right time. His decision will have a ripple effect on the F1 grid, with many drivers vying for his seat. One candidate touted to replace him is his young charge and Haas driver Mick Schumacher.
F1 journalist Joe Saward believes Schumacher could be the candidate to replace the four-time world champion in the Aston Martin F1 team for the 2023 season.
“The driver market might get a bit more lively in Budapest. We still need to find out whether Sebastian Vettel will retire… to be replaced at Aston Martin by Mick Schumacher,” said Saward.
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Vettel’s decision to call it a day on his racing career caught some fans by surprise. As he had joined social media earlier in the day to send them into a frenzy. But his announcement will feel like heartbreak to everyone in the motorsport world.
Sebastian Vettel announces retirement from F1 after the 2022 season
The German driver gave a detailed statement of his reasons for taking such a huge decision. He maintained that his family life is more important to him at this stage of his life than his professional endeavors.
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Formula One F1 – Austrian Grand Prix – Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria – July 8, 2022, Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel reacts during practice REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
“The decision to retire has been a difficult one for me to take, and I have spent a lot of time thinking about it. At the end of the year, I want to take some more time to reflect on what I will focus on next; it is very clear to me that, being a father, I want to spend more time with my family,” said Vettel.
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Now begins the race to replace him at the Aston Martin F1 team. It would be interesting to see if the German driver has any say in choosing his successor on the team. Will it be his charge Mick Schumacher or the F2 champion Oscar Piastri? We’ll find out soon…