Sunday marked the final race of four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel’s career in Formula 1, bringing an end to an incredible 16 years of racing.
Vettel has achieved so much in his career not just on track, but off it too, which is why he will always be remembered as one of the greats of the sport.
Scoring points on his debut for BMW Sauber at the United Sates Grand Prix back in 2007, when filling in for the injured Robert Kubica. Showing he was quick right from the off.
He won the first race of his career in 2008 at a soaking wet Monza for Toro Rosso, a fairy tale victory for Vettel and for the team, which was only in its third season of competition.
This victory earned him a move to Red Bull and the rest is history.
Vettel went on to win four consecutive championships from 2010-2013, he became the youngest world champion at 23 years and 134 days old and he did hold the joint record for most wins in a season at 13 with Michael Schumacher (That record has been since beaten by Max Verstappen) .
He has since then raced for Ferrari and Aston Martin and has enjoyed some memorable moments.
Vettel finished his final race 10th chasing Daniel Ricciardo right to the line, he was also awarded driver of the day.
In the last few years Vettel has shown interested in climate change and social issues.
He was a strong supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement alongside Sir Lewis Hamilton and other social issues as well.
He has shown his support to the LGBTQ+ community and has campaigned to get more women into motorsport.
At the Miami Grand Prix this year he wore a t-shirt showing his support for climate change and at the Austrian Grand Prix he worked with children to build a hotel for bees.
Vettel will be thoroughly missed throughout the F1 paddock by all the drivers next year.
Hamilton organised a dinner to commemorate Vettel’s career during the build-up to the race weekend and later put out a tweet saying “We’ve come along way as drivers and continue to grow as men. Despite whatever may happen on the track, we grow and become better each day. Us all coming together to celebrate life and Seb’s amazing career in F1 is truly a night I will never forget”.