F1 drivers are some of the highest-paid athletes in the world, enjoying the most luxurious lifestyle. However, Sebastian Vettel decided to forgo the luxuries when he realized he was getting ripped off in France.
At the time Vettel was the lead driver for Ferrari. The German was earning over $40,000,000 a season from the Italian team. Yet, the driver went the extra mile to save a pretty penny.
Despite having a chance to stay at a fancy hotel for his convenience, the 4x world champion decided to camp in the French countryside and traveled to the circuit on his motorbike.
Why did Sebastian Vettel travel to French GP on a bike?
German auto magazine Auto Motor und Sport followed Sebastian Vettel as a part of a special segment. They were interested in knowing how drivers and team personnel handled the first-ever triple-header of the 2018 F1 calendar covering the French, Austrian, and British GP.
Vettel’s first stop was at Circuit Paul Ricard in the south of France. The 4x champion chartered a private jet to the French circuit and Hotel du Castellet, bordering the race track. However, on arriving Vettel discovered the prices had been inflated due to the upcoming F1 race.
seb please 😭 pic.twitter.com/46qQ7mj9LO
— Naca ⁵ (@F1ToRuleThemAll) June 2, 2023
AMuS reported, “The hotel had raised the room prices for the GP week to $2677 (2,500 Euros) per night. That was too much for a Formula 1 World Champion, on principle.”
His next idea was to park his motorhome at the circuit itself. However, the venue was charging over $16,000 to set up camp overnight. Hence the $40,000,000 salaried Ferrari driver decided to go the unconventional route.
Vettel decided to park his motorhome 8 km away from the track and stayed there. He rode to and fro from the track on his motorbike and skipped the hassle altogether. A genius move by the former world champion!
Vettel went on a wild hunt to retrieve stolen Airpods
Ahead of the 2022 Spanish GP, Sebastian Vettel was a victim of a robbery. According to police reports, some thieves broke into his car and stole a backpack that contained his AirPods, and personal documents.
The 4x world champion had left the window of his car open when he got out of his car. However, the driver went beyond his limits to trace his stolen belongings.
He hired an electric scooter and located his AirPods using Apple’s Find app on his iPhone. The Aston Martin driver located his earphones in a vase of flowers inside a shop. The thieves had supposedly left it knowing that the device could be tracked.
The driver lodged a complaint with the Barcelona police, who investigated further in this matter. Sadly, the driver was unable to retrieve his documents. This included his driver’s license, passport, and some credit cards.
However, Vettel’s intelligence and ability to react in the most stressful moments must be appreciated. The German might have retired from the sport, but his iconic moments still thrive in the hearts of F1 fans.
