Sebastian Vettel has announced his retirement from Formula 1.
The four-time world champion broke the news to fans with a shock announcement on social media on Thursday. The German joined Instagram and quickly gained 500,000 followers, before telling them he plans to retire at the end of the year.
"I have had the privilege of working with many fantastic people in Formula 1 over the past 15 years – there are far too many to mention and thank," he said. "Over the past two years I have been an Aston Martin driver – and, although our results have not been as good as we had hoped, it is very clear to me that everything is being put together that a team needs to race at the very highest level for years to come.
"I have really enjoyed working with such a great bunch of people. Everyone – Lawrence, Lance, Martin, Mike, the senior managers, the engineers, the mechanics and the rest of the team – is ambitious, capable, expert, committed and friendly, and I wish them all well.
"I hope that the work I did last year and am continuing to do this year will be helpful in the development of a team that will win in the future, and I will work as hard as I can between now and the end of the year with that goal in mind, giving as always my best in the last 10 races.
"The decision to retire has been a difficult one for me to take, and I have spent a lot of time thinking about it. At the end of the year I want to take some more time to reflect on what I will focus on next – it is very clear to me that, being a father, I want to spend more time with my family.
"But today is not about saying goodbye. Rather, it is about saying thank you – to everyone – not least to the fans, without whose passionate support Formula 1 could not exist."
Vettel had been in contract negotiations to remain with Aston Martin beyond this year. Team principal Mike Krack had been saying he was confident a deal would be reached, but must now seek a replacement for the German.
"Sebastian is a superb driver – fast, intelligent and strategic – and of course we are going to miss those qualities," said the Luxembourger. "However, we have all learned from him, and the knowledge that we have gained from working with him will continue to benefit our team long after his departure.
"Aston Martin is a great project, with unlimited potential, and the groundwork that Sebastian has done last year, and is still doing this year, is crucial. When we become fully competitive – and we will – one of the architects of that future success will be Sebastian, and we will always be grateful to him for that."
