Controversial, divisive but Sebastian Vettel retires as a genuine F1 legend

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel has announced he will retire from Formula One at the end of 2022.

As the stats go, he is one of the greatest drivers of all time. He ranks third for wins (53), fourth for poles (57) and fifth for fastest laps (38).

In terms of titles, only Sir Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, and Juan Manuel Fangio can better him. But when discussions over who could be considered F1’s G.O.A.T. are made, Vettel’s name is often overlooked.

Yet, this is one of the saddest exits the sport has witnessed in a long time, as although he is one of the most divisive champions in history, off the track you’d struggle to find a driver more beloved.

It was abundantly clear from the off that the German was blisteringly quick, becoming the youngest driver in history to score a point on his debut in 2007, and the youngest to win a race when he did so a year later at the memorable Italian Grand Prix.

Come 2010, he was in a Red Bull capable of winning the championship and he would do just that – for the next four years – proving himself to be insanely fast.

But he had one problem: He could never acknowledge when he had done something wrong.

After stupidly crashing into Mark Webber while trying to pass his teammate for the lead in Turkey in 2010, Vettel took no responsibility and Red Bull failed to admonish him either, wishing to protect their star driver and academy product.

It did not help his image that Red Bull kept giving him the quickest car. His domination in 2011 and 2013 was particularly grating for fans, while many felt that Fernando Alonso was the more worthy winner in 2012 after he dragged his woeful Ferrari to within three points of the title.

In 2013, he defied team orders to overtake Webber for the win in