2022 saw Sebastian Vettel retire after 16 seasons in F1. The German leaves as an all-time great in the sport with 53 wins and 4 World Championship titles that he won during his time at Red Bull. It was with Red Bull that Sebastian was crowned the youngest-ever F1 champion in 2010.
Seb’s best days in F1 came in Red Bull which he joined in 2009. But the German has been associated with the Austrian Energy drinks company since his karting days.
Following his retirement, Red Bull’s Team Principal Christian Horner remembers the German’s first years with the F1 team. And how he played a crucial part in the early success that made Red Bull a powerhouse in F1.
Christian Horner talks about Sebastian Vettel’s work ethic
Christian Horner has often admired Sebastian Vettel for his Germanic work ethic. The Briton has often quoted Vettel’s focus and the technical depth of the car to be superior to other drivers who raced alongside him.
Horner said, “Sebastian worked incredibly hard and was incredibly dedicated. He was often the last guy in the engineering office at the end of a Friday or Saturday.”
Christian Horner and Adrian Newey on their memories of working with Sebastian Vettel.
“It used to take him half an hour to debrief the formation lap!” jokes Horner.#F1 pic.twitter.com/o7ogNcCXBk
— Sam Cooper (@samcooper_) December 14, 2022
Vettel was known to spend hours in the garage with mechanics and engineers in order to better understand his car. Something Charles Leclerc narrated while he teamed up with Seb at Ferrari.
He jokes, “It used to take him half an hour to debrief the formation lap!” This curiosity for detail and his hard-working nature is what separated Vettel from the rest of the grid and made him a 4-time World Champion.
Adrian Newey on Vettel’s Technical genius
While Christian Horner joked about Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull’s Technical head Adrian Newey rather appreciated it. Newey claims the methodical approach of the German suited him and benefitted the team to craft a race-winning car.
Vettel also paid great attention to his mistakes. As Newey recalled, “If he made a mistake he would want to understand how he made it. And he very rarely made the same mistake twice.”
Seb’s Farewell Party at RedBull:#Vettel: “I was sitting with Helmut and France and we were talking should we do it (let Seb drive) should we not is he too young? Is he fast enough and then Didi slammed his hands on the table and said LETS GIVE HIM A CHANCE” 😭😂 pic.twitter.com/DqGH6PuR0x
— Sebastian Vettel Updates (@ocsebvettel) November 24, 2022
Newey also credits Vettel’s dedication to racing and his spirit as a catalyst that inspired the entire team. And this set up Red Bull as a force in F1.
