Sebastian Vettel confirms retirement from Formula 1

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel has confirmed he is retiring from Formula 1 at the end of the season, bringing down the curtain on 15 years in the sport.

The German, best-known for his period of dominance between 2010 and 2013 with Red Bull, where he secured all of his world championships, has been at Aston Martin for the past two years and he has now decided to call it quits.

Having driven for Ferrari as well, Seb will go down as one of the most successful drivers in the history of the sport, with him duelling against the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.

Speaking via the official Aston Martin website, Vettel had this to say:

“I have had the privilege of working with many fantastic people in Formula One over the past 15 years – there are far too many to mention and thank.

“Over the past two years I have been an Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One™ Team driver – and, although our results have not been as good as we had hoped, it is very clear to me that everything is being put together that a team needs to race at the very highest level for years to come. I have really enjoyed working with such a great bunch of people.

“Everyone – Lawrence, Lance, Martin, Mike, the senior managers, the engineers, the mechanics and the rest of the team – is ambitious, capable, expert, committed and friendly, and I wish them all well. I hope that the work I did last year and am continuing to do this year will be helpful in the development of a team that will win in the future, and I will work as hard as I can between now and the end of the year with that goal in mind, giving as always my best in the last 10 races.

“The decision to retire has been a difficult one for me to take, and I have spent a lot of time