Lewis Hamilton set the tone as coworkers, competitors, and friends paid heartfelt homage to Sebastian Vettel on Thursday after the four-time champion announced he would leave Formula One at the end of the current campaign.
The 35-year-old German’s greatest rival for many years, seven-time champion Hamilton, who made his debut alongside him in 2007, said it had been an honour to have raced and gotten to know him.
Hamilton wrote on Twitter, “Seb, it’s been an honour to call you a competitor and an even greater honour to call you my friend.” “The ultimate goal is to leave this sport better than you found it.
\ “Whatever happens to you after this will undoubtedly be exciting, significant, and rewarding. Man, I love you.”
Later, he added in a paddock interview: “Of the few, he stood for a lot more than just himself. He supported and raised his voice.
“He has always taken the low road, follows his own path, and has fought for the causes he holds dear as well as the greater good.
And while I’m saddened by the news of today, I’m also happy to have been there and raced alongside of him because I know he will accomplish more than this.
Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time champion Michael and Vettel’s mentor and friend, said that his compatriot had contributed significantly to his own career.
“I’m sorry you’re going, but I’m also happy for you and this new phase of your life. You have been and continue to be such a significant figure in my life, and I appreciate our friendship.
Prior to this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz of Ferrari spoke to the media about how kind Vettel had been to him when he served as Red Bull’s simulator driver back in the day when he won four championships.
He has always been a great role model from the start. He was very professional when I was his simulator driver at Red Bull, and he
“Everyone in Formula One adores him for his personality and his life as a human being. He has been a fantastic ambassador for the sport and for the younger generation. Although I hope to see him back in the paddock to assist us in securing the sport’s future, we will miss him.”
Vettel’s former teammate at the Italian outfit, Charles Leclerc, of Ferrari, stated: “He truly is a legend. With him and because of him, I have developed both as a driver and as a person.
“We seem to have a unique bond, in my opinion. He has always been a very nice, straightforward person.”
Daniel Ricciardo, a former teammate who now works for Red Bull, said: “Of course, the loss of a legend is sad.
Another seasoned rival, Valtteri Bottas, expressed his admiration for him and his work to promote driver safety. He added that “and he used his platform for all the right things.” He was consistently just and a pleasure to get to know.
Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion and leader of the series, praised him for his accomplishments and four victories, adding that his work at Red Bull had paved the way for his own successes.
Of course, everyone is aware of what he accomplished while working for Red Bull, and there are many anecdotes about him from the past, he added.
“For me, being there with a seasoned team that has been competing for titles is nice,”
