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Sebastian Vettel had admitted he felt a bit " funny " following the final Friday of his Formula 1 career at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Four-time World Champion Vettel is retiring this weekend after a 15-year career that has brought 53 wins from 298 starts so far. He was an encouraging sixth in the opening session for Aston Martin at Yas Marina, following that up with 12th in the second session. Speaking after his 300th day of Friday practice as a driver, Vettel felt that while it was Business as usual, he did feel the significance of the moment. "It's been like many other Fridays to be honest once you pull out of the garage, you get into your rhythm and do what you know best," Vettel explained to media. "[That] is to gather a lot of information and get into the groove of the car. "It didn't take long this afternoon and this evening the track changed...

Sebastian Vettel was "coming alive" in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying, as he will line up ninth for his final ever Formula 1 race. Four-time World Champion Vettel escaped Q1 in the dying stages at Yas Marina and was able to advance through to Q3. Using only one set of new Slot tyres, Vettel's effort was quick enough for seventh, but was later shuffled down to P9, and will start alongside old rival Fernando Alonso once Daniel Ricciardo's grid penalty was applied. Viewed by others: Max Verstappen Verstappen reveals 'brief scare' on the way to Abu Dhabi pole F1 9fe166b2952d9adfdf937.webp 1x, https://cdn.thefoxposts.com/images/2022/11/19/5a65d0207 F1 9fe1...

Sebastian Vettel is not focused on his impending Formula 1 retirement as Aston Martin still face a challenge in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Vettel will start his 299th and final Grand Prix from ninth on the grid after a strong qualifying session at Yas Marina, with Aston currently seventh in the Constructors' standings. They are just five points behind Alfa Romeo in the race for sixth place, and with both Aston's ahead of the Alfa duo on the grid, Vettel is keen to go out strongly and deliver the higher position for the team. Viewed by others: Lewis Hamilton Hamilton reveals feelings about troublesome 2022 Mercedes ...

Former Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel says there are "more important things than driving in circles " after his final race in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Starting ninth, Vettel ran as high as fourth as he attempted a one-stop strategy, with his Aston Martin going on a late charge to recover after dropping to P19 following his sole stop. The four-time World Champion was hounding Daniel Ricciardo for ninth on the final lap, but could not get past as he finished his final season 11th in the standings on 37 points. Speaking after the race, Vettel was keen to see the bigger picture. Vettel reacts to final race "I feel a bit empty to be honest, but I can only repeat that the last two years have been very disappointing from a sporting point of view – but very useful and important to me in my life," Vettel explained after completing doughnuts on the grid. "A lot...

Damon Hill believes that Sebastian Vettel will return to Formula 1 "in some capacity " following his retirement from the sport. Vettel took part in his last F1 race at the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, in which he scored his final point by finishing in P10 after starting from ninth on the grid. It marked another strong performance from Vettel, who racked up six points finishes – as well as several Driver of the Day accolades – during the latter half of the campaign following his retirement announcement in July. Hill believes that psychology can play a part in enabling a driver to perform well after deciding to leave the sport. "I'm particularly interested in how drivers can reignite that passion for driving," Hill told the F1 Nation podcast. "If they've got a tiny bit of doubt... Let's say you're doubting whether you want to be a racing driver anymore [and] you're not enjoying it, [it's] very difficult to perfor...

Ralf Schumacher has suggested that Sebastian Vettel could be tempted back into Formula 1 in the future, despite his recent retirement. The Aston Martin driver took part in his final race at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, after calling time on his F1 career. In his column for Sky Sports Germany , ex-F1 driver Schumacher paid tribute to Vettel's achievements, and suggested that his heavy involvement in the bigger issues surrounding the sport could have taken a toll on the four-time World Champion. "Sebastian Vettel is a four-time world champion who has achieved great things. Formula 1 will miss Sebastian Vettel as a person," wrote Schumacher. "Unfortunately, things didn't go quite so well for him with Aston Martin. I would have wished differently for him. "What else do I associate with Sebastian Vettel? In addition to sport, Sebastian had environmental protection high on his agenda. "He took a very critical approach to this. Environmental pro...

Aston Martin 's Mike Krack insists that the signing of Fernando Alonso will generate a positive ' spark ' within the team. Following Sebastian Vettel's retirement announcement earlier in the season, Alonso was swiftly confirmed as an Aston Martin driver for 2023, making the switch from Alpine. When asked about the impact Alonso would have on the Silverstone-based team, Krack pointed to an example of the 41-year-old's determination in the 2022 season. "I think with Fernando, I always hold up this picture of the Mexican Grand Prix, about his frustration of not having finished seventh," Krack explained to media, including RacingNews365 .com . "This is an example of dedication and motivation. "So, if you if you have someone with this passion and drive to win, I think it has an impact on the team, and we could clearly see that. "Everybody was really happy to have this guy in the car last Tuesday, so I think he ignited another sp...

Aston Martin Team Principal Mike Krack says new signing Fernando Alonso may be set for a long-term role with the team in a non- driving role when he elects to stop racing. Alonso caused a stir earlier this year when it was announced shortly after the Hungarian Grand Prix that he would leave Alpine at the end of 2022 to join Aston Martin on a multi-year deal, replacing the retiring Sebastian Vettel. At 41, Alonso is the oldest driver on the F1 grid by some four years, but his speed and enthusiasm for racing appear undimmed, with Krack hailing the Spaniard's performance on his first official outing for Aston Martin at 2022's post-season test in Abu Dhabi. Asked whether Alonso's future relationship with Aston Martin may include the Spaniard transitioning into a non-driving role, Krack responded in the affirmative. "We have had some very good conversations already with him," Krack told media, including TheFOXposts.Com . "This, in my opinion, ca...

Sebastian Vettel believes that Formula 1 can do more to earn 'credibility' with the general public. With the sport is aiming to tackle a range of issues in the coming years, such as equality and sustainability, retiring World Champion believes F1 could do more to be 'transparent' with the fans. Vettel, who retired from Formula 1 at the season-ending race in Abu Dhabi, was asked what changes he would make to the sport . "I think in general, more transparency, I think the world is opening up," Vettel responded to media, including TheFOXposts.Com , before suggesting that more actions were needed for F1 to meet their own goals. "F1 should lead [with] some more transparency, more credibility with all the claims and all the things that we are saying [that] we're doing and wanting to do in the future. "I think we need to prove that we actually doing them as a sport." ...

Aston Martin boss Mike Krack has explained what "fascinated" the team about Fernando Alonso ahead of the Spaniard's impending arrival. It was confirmed at the start of F1 's summer break that Alonso would join the British outfit for 2023 after a two-year comeback stint with Alpine, meaning that he would replace the retiring Sebastian Vettel. Following his two World Championships in 2005 and 2006, Alonso went on to win races with the likes of McLaren and Ferrari, but has not taken a victory in the sport since 2013. In an exclusive interview with TheFOXposts.Com , Krack suggested that it would be "unfair" to judge the 41-year-old on this, and detailed the reasons why Aston Martin were keen to bring him on board. Krack 'fascinated' by Alonso's characteristics "There is more than that," Krack responded when quizzed on Alonso's lack of wi...

Stoffel Vandoorne feels that it is "hard to judge" the likelihood of him returning to Formula 1 off the back of his championship success in Formula E . Vandoorne was previously given his debut in F1 with McLaren back in 2017, but found himself without a seat on the grid at the end of the 2018 season. Since then, Vandoorne has competed in Formula E and clinched the World Championship for the first time in the 2021/2022 campaign. The Belgian's Mercedes-EQ teammate Nyck de Vries – who himself took the title in 2021/2022 – has departed the all-electric series to join the AlphaTauri team in Formula 1 , but Vandoorne has played down his own chances of making an F1 comeback . Vandoorne: I've had my opportunity in F1 "It's hard to judge," Vandoorne told media, including TheFOXposts.Com , when asked at the FIA Prize Giving Gala whether de Vries' move to F1 –...

Mike Krack has revealed Aston Martin's driver plans for the future, with one of their aims being to make reserve driver Felipe Drugovich "race ready". The team will have a new line-up for 2023 following the arrival of Fernando Alonso on a multi-year contract, with the Spaniard joining the incumbent Lance Stroll following the retirement of Sebastian Vettel. Elsewhere, Drugovich and Formula E champion Stoffel Vandoorne will both act as reserve drivers, while former F1 star Pedro de la Rosa has taken on the position of Team Ambassador, in which he will fulfil a mixture of duties as well as supporting the Driver Development Programme. In an exclusive interview with TheFOXposts.Com , team boss Krack has given a further insight into what the future holds for the team's drivers. Aston Martin reveal target for Drugovich In terms of Drugovich's development, Krack explained: ...

Aston Martin boss Mike Krack says he was " tempted " to ask Sebastian Vettel to make a Formula 1 comeback to replace Lance Stroll - but decided against it. Stroll was injured in a pre-season cycling accident, sustaining serious wrist injuries that ruled him out of pre-season testing and put his participation in doubt for the Bahrain opener. He ultimately returned, but before this was announced, Krack did not deny that he had spoken to four-time World Champion Vettel who retired at the end of the 2022 season. And Krack has now explained that he did think about the idea of asking the German to come back, but decided to follow Vettel's wishes. Viewed by others: F1 2023 More details confirmed on Gulf-backed F1 team ...

Damon Hill believes there has been a " noticeable " change in Lance Stroll over the winter, with various factor s possibly contributing. The Canadian was forced to miss pre-season testing after injuring his wrists and toe in a cycling accident, but returned with a points-scoring P6 finish at the opening race in Bahrain. Stroll has also shared the story of his recovery with fans, and journalist Tom Clarkson – who hosts the F1 driver press conferences over race weekends – feels that Stroll has changed his approach to the media, possibly due to spending time with the Netflix crew filming Drive to Survive . A 'marked change' in Stroll "I think he is a much more engaging interview now than he has been in the past," Clarkson said on the F1 Nation podcast. "I've always felt in the past that he resents doing the media work whereas, this year, I've seen a marked change . "I do wonder whether it's got anything to do wi...

Fernando Alonso says this year's Australian Grand Prix will be even faster than last year's, as he seeks to make it three podium finishes in as many races in 2023. Last year's race was the first at Albert Park since 2019 after a Covid-enforced hiatus, with track changes seeing the removal of the chicane at Turns 9 and 10, creating a flat-out run from Turn 6 through to Turns 11 and 12. 2022 also saw the widening of Turns 1, 3, 6 and 13, along with the entire track being resurfaced for the first time since it was first laid in 1995. There are no new physical changes to the Albert Park track this year, but a key difference is the addition of a fourth DRS zone between Turns 6 and 11. This was set to be introduced for last year's race, but after being used during Friday practice, safety concerns saw it removed for the rest of the weekend. Viewed by others: ...