41 Facts About Sebastian Vettel You Should Know

In 2022, Sebastian Vettel shocked the world of Formula 1 when he announced his retirement from the sport. Vettel left his mark on F1, winning 53 races and four World Championships. As the curtain draws on his glittering career, here are 41 facts about Sebastian Vettel that you should know. 

1. When Was Sebastian Vettel Born?

Sebastian Vettel was born on the 3^rd of July 1987 in Heppenheim, West Germany. He is the son of Heike and Norbert Vettel, and the older brother to Fabian Vettel, a racing driver, as well as the younger brother to his two sisters, Melanie and Stefanie.

2. Where Did Sebastian Vettel Go To School?

Sebastian Vettel went to school at the Starkenberg-Gymnasium in Heppenheim. He passed his end of year exams with good grades, even though he has admitted he was terrible at school. 

3. Sebastian Vettel Height & Weight

Sebastian Vettel is 1.75 m (5’9”) tall and weighs 62 kg (136 lbs). He is around the average height and weight for Formula 1 drivers, making him ideal for the F1 hotseat. 

4. Is Sebastian Vettel Left Handed?

Sebastian Vettel is right-handed, like most Formula 1 drivers. There have not been a lot of high-profile left-handed drivers in F1 over the years, with a notable exception being the great Ayrton Senna. 

5. How Many Languages Does Sebastian Vettel Speak?

Sebastian Vettel speaks 3 languages. As well as his native German, Vettel is fluent in English and Italian. The Italian was especially useful during his time at Ferrari, most notably during a radio call after his last race when he recited a self-written Italian song for the team’s staff.

6. When Did Sebastian Vettel Start Karting?

Sebastian Vettel started driving a kart at home at the age of 3 and began racing in karting series in 1995 when he was 8 years old. He was signed to the Red Bull Junior team in 1998, where he raced in many karting events under their name. 

7. Did Sebastian Vettel Race In GP3?

Sebastian Vettel did not race in GP3. He instead raced in other divisions, including Formula Renault 3.5 for Carlin Motorsport. He didn’t race in GP3 or GP2 on his way up to Formula 1. 

8. Did Sebastian Vettel Race In GP2?

Sebastian Vettel did not race in GP2 before moving into Formula 1. Instead, he honed his craft in other disciplines, such as Formula Renault 3.5 for Carlin Motorsport, and Formula BMW ADAC, before he became a test driver for the Sauber F1 team in 2006.

9. How Did Sebastian Vettel Get Into F1?

Sebastian Vettel got into F1 after joining the Red Bull junior program in 1998 and working his way up through the single-seater divisions until he was offered a test driver spot for Sauber in 2006. His route wasn’t completely traditional, as he never appeared in Formula 2 (then GP2).

10. When Did Sebastian Vettel Start F1?

Sebastian Vettel got his first taste of F1 in 2006 as a test driver for Sauber. His first full season came for Toro Rosso in 2008, where he finished eighth in the drivers’ standings, amassing 35 points as well as a historic and unexpected race win at Monza. 

11. When Was Sebastian Vettel At Red Bull?

Sebastian Vettel was at Red Bull’s F1 team from 2009 to 2014. He had been part of Red Bull’s junior setup since 1998 and had progressed through the ranks before joining Red Bull’s second team, Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri), in 2007. 

12. Why Did Red Bull Let Go Of Vettel?

Red Bull let go of Sebastian Vettel for several reasons. The first was a clause in his contract that meant his low position in the drivers’ standings allowed him to leave. Another was the huge amount of money that Ferrari offered him, as well as his admiration for and desire to race for the team.

13. Why Sebastian Vettel Left Ferrari

Sebastian Vettel left Ferrari after his relationship with the team broke down. He released a statement at the time saying that both parties had concluded not to renew his contract past the 2020 season. He also saw that the team had begun to favor Charles Leclerc as their main driver going forward.

14. How Many Podiums Did Sebastian Vettel Get With Ferrari?

Sebastian Vettel achieved 55 podiums and 14 wins during his time at Ferrari. These unfortunately did not accumulate into a World Championship title, with his best results in the Drivers’ Championship being consecutive second place finishes in 2017 and 2018. 

15. Why Did Sebastian Vettel Join Aston Martin?

Sebastian Vettel joined Aston Martin in 2021 after the expiration of his Ferrari contract. He believed that under the rebranded name of Aston Martin and with the backing of billionaire Lawrence Stroll they could build something special as a team.  

16. Is Sebastian Vettel Still Racing Next Year?

Sebastian Vettel will not be racing in 2023 after announcing his retirement in July of 2022. His retirement came as a shock to many, with some believing he still has a lot to offer within the sport. His main reason for retiring was to spend more time with his family. 

17. Did Sebastian Vettel Win A Championship With Ferrari?

Sebastian Vettel did not win a Championship with Ferrari. He regards his time at Ferrari as a failure because of this, as he ultimately failed to achieve his goal of winning a championship in the famous red car. His best finishes with Ferrari were second place in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

18. Did Sebastian Vettel Win In Monaco?

Sebastian Vettel has won twice at Monaco. The first came in 2011 when he was driving for Red Bull. He would have to wait six years before he won Formula 1’s most famous race again, when he won there as a Ferrari driver. 

19. Who Has Sebastian Vettel Raced For?

Sebastian Vettel started his F1 career in 2006 at Sauber as a test driver on loan from Red Bull. He earned his spot at Toro Rosso in 2007, before being promoted to Red Bull in 2009, where he enjoyed his most successful years. He moved to Ferrari in 2015, before moving to Aston Martin in 2021.

20. When Was Sebastian Vettel’s Last Win?

Sebastian Vettel’s last win came at the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. He fought his way up from a third-place qualifying finish to take the victory two and a half seconds in front of his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc. 

21. What Records Does Sebastian Vettel Hold?

Sebastian Vettel holds the record for the most consecutive race wins, with 9. He set this record during his 2013 World Championship season at Red Bull. He is also the youngest ever F1 World Champion, and the youngest double, triple and quadruple World Champion.

22. Is Sebastian Vettel Better Than Lewis Hamilton?

Over the course of both drivers’ careers, Sebastian Vettel has fallen short of Lewis Hamilton. For a time, Vettel was unmatched, but the V6 era brought along challenges for Vettel at Red Bull and then Ferrari, while Hamilton and Mercedes prospered. Statistically speaking, Hamilton is better. 

23. Is Sebastian Vettel A Good Driver?

Sebastian Vettel is a very good driver, and he showed this when he won 4 back-to-back World Drivers’ Championships between 2010 and 2013. He also has an incredibly strong competitive nature and will to win. 

24. Is Sebastian Vettel The Best?

Sebastian Vettel is one of the best F1 drivers in history. He has won 4 World Championships, and only Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher have won more races than him. He has the fourth most pole positions in F1 history with a total of 57, behind Hamilton, Schumacher and Senna.

25. Is Sebastian Vettel One Of The Best F1 Drivers?

Sebastian Vettel is one of the best F1 drives to ever grace the sport. He won four consecutive championships during a dominant spell at Red Bull where he looked truly unbeatable. He is currently a steady performer in a below-average Aston Martin car.

26. How Good Was Sebastian Vettel In His Prime?

Sebastian Vettel was incredible in his prime years, winning 29 out of 58 races. He won four World Championships in four consecutive seasons and holds the record for the most consecutive race wins, winning nine in a row in 2013. He had arguably the greatest peak in F1 history.

27. Has Sebastian Vettel Ever Been Beaten By A Teammate?

Sebastian Vettel has been beaten by his teammate 3 times throughout his career. The first came in 2014, when Daniel Ricciardo finished higher than him in his first season at red Bull. The other two defeats were inflicted by Charles Leclerc at Ferrari in the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

28. Did Sebastian Vettel Beat Charles Leclerc?

Sebastian Vettel failed to finish higher than Charles Leclerc in the Drivers’ Championship in their two years together as teammates. In their first season in 2019, Leclerc finished 4^th compared to Vettel’s 5^th, with the Monegasque driver finishing 8^th, compared to Vettel’s 13^th place finish in 2020.

29. Was Sebastian Vettel Rich Before F1?

Sebastian Vettel was not rich before F1, having come from a modest, working-class family. His family had to budget and save a lot of money in order to fund the young driver’s early karting career. Thankfully this paid off, and he went on to become one of the most successful drivers in history.

30. Sebastian Vettel Net Worth

Sebastian Vettel has a reported net worth of around $150 million. He has earned this money over the course of his long and successful career in Formula 1, as well as from various sponsorships and endorsements, from brands such as Shell, Casio, and Pepe Jeans. 

31. How Many F1 Cars Does Sebastian Vettel Own?

Sebastian Vettel owns at least two F1 cars, including at least one of his title-winning Red Bull cars, and the legendary Williams FW14B car that Nigel Mansell won the World Championship with in 1992. He purchased the car for an undisclosed fee in 2020.

32. Why Is Sebastian Vettel Famous?

Sebastian Vettel is famous for being a Formula 1 driver. He is one of the most decorated drivers of all time, with 4 World Championships to his name. He achieved these in consecutive years during a dominant spell with Red Bull between 2010-2013. 

33. Why Is Sebastian Vettel So Popular?

Sebastian Vettel’s popularity stems from his undeniable ability behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car. With 4 World Championships to his name, he has attracted a lot of fans over the years. He is also very personable and stands up for a lot of great causes, most notably environmentalism.

34. Why Is Sebastian Vettel Disliked?

Sebastian Vettel is disliked by some, partly because of his success during his championship winning years. Dominant figures in any sport tend to attract their share of hatred as well as admiration. Sports fans are destined to dislike the opposition, especially when they are winning all the time.

35. Why Is Sebastian Vettel No Longer Competitive?

Sebastian Vettel is no longer competitive as he is driving an underperforming Aston Martin car. His departure from Ferrari signaled the end of his time as one of the drivers consistently at the front of the grid, paving the way for younger drivers to take his spot.

36. Is Sebastian Vettel Underrated?

Sebastian Vettel is not underrated. He is rated highly by fans and drivers alike, having recently been voted by current and former F1 drivers as the fourth best Formula 1 driver of all time. His glittering career is appreciated, and he will be sorely missed upon his retirement. 

37. Will Sebastian Vettel Win Again?

It remains unlikely that Sebastian Vettel will win another race. With his retirement imminent, the Aston Martin that he will drive for the remainder of the 2022 season is not a competitive car and will likely not be in the mix for any late-season Grand prix victories.

38. Will Sebastian Vettel Go To McLaren?

Sebastian Vettel will not go to McLaren, as he is retiring at the end of the 2022 season. Before he announced his retirement, there were strong rumors of a potential interest in his services from McLaren. Vettel swiftly denied these rumors, subsequently announcing he would not be driving in 2023.

39. Will Sebastian Vettel Go To Mercedes?

Sebastian Vettel will not go to Mercedes, because he is retiring at the end of the 2022 season. Toto Wolff was once tempted to try and sign Vettel when he left Ferrari, but the deal never materialized. Vettel also drove for Mercedes’ rival Red Bull during their dominant spell between 2010-2013.

40. Will Sebastian Vettel Join Red Bull?

Sebastian Vettel will not join Red Bull because he is retiring for 2023. He formerly raced for Red Bull when he joined their junior team in 1998 and progressed all the way through the ranks to their F1 team. He won four consecutive Championships with them between 2010-2013.

41. Will Sebastian Vettel Come Back To F1?

The chances of Sebastian Vettel coming back to F1 as a full-time driver are very slim, as he has other interests he wishes to pursue upon his retirement. He has, however, suggested he would be interested in returning to the sport to take part in a one-off race at Suzuka in Japan.

Final Thoughts

Sebastian Vettel is one of the all-time greats of Formula 1, and he cemented his legacy in the sport when he won 4 back-to-back World Championships from 2010 through 2013. Unfortunately, the latter years of his career were much less successful, but he will be sorely missed when he is no longer in the F1 paddock.