Sebastian Vettel might be one of the most popular sportsmen around – but that wasn't always the case when the Formula 1 star was at school.
Of course he had shown from an early age that he had extraordinary talent on the racing track. He was winning trophies left, right and centre on the karting scene on the way to becoming the next big German racer to follow in the footsteps of Michael Schumacher.
After reaching the pinnacle of motorsport, Vettel won four world titles with Red Bull – a record that can be bettered only by Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton. But reaching that point was not always easy, especially after he was targeted by bullies jealous of his talent.
Recently-resurfaced footage shows Vettel as a youngster, speaking to Spiegel TV in 1998. In the clip, the visibly downcast young racer spoke of how he once took one of his trophies to school – only to be targeted by a group of fellow pupils who felt he was boasting.
"Once I took a trophy to school, but they destroyed it immediately and called me a show-off," he said to the reporter. Safe to say he had the last laugh, though, as he shook off the bullies to achieve his F1 dream and become one of the most decorated racers in the sport's history.
Now aged 35 and racing for Aston Martin, the German's future is as uncertain as it has ever been. Aston Martin chief Mike Krack has already pledged to offer the former Red Bull and Ferrari racer a new deal – it is up to Vettel if he wants to stay with the team.
His current contract expires at the end of the year, giving the racer three options. He can stick with Aston Martin and hope they can give him a better car in 2023, join a rival if an opportunity comes up or he could decide to end his F1 career.
Vettel is yet to decide, but gave a hint that retirement is very much an option he is considering. "I don't want to fight for the points, but for the victory. Otherwise the fun is gone for me," he said, as quoted by F1 reporter Davide Russo. "In the coming weeks, in consultation with my family, I will be clear about how realistic my goals are and about how much energy I still have to grow with the team."
