Sebastian Vettel was "close" to F1 retirement, joining Aston Martin "not an easy call"

Sebastian Vettel

Vettel was "close" to F1 retirement, joining Aston Martin "not an easy call"

Four-time F1 champion will join Aston Martin from next season

Ian Parkes

Thursday 10 September 2020 17:18

Sebastian Vettel has revealed he was "close" to calling it a day on his Formula 1 career after spending "weeks and months" thinking about his future.

Ferrari announced in May it would be parting ways with Vettel at the end of the year, ending its six-year association with the four-time F1 champion.

That left Vettel to mull over the next move in his career before finally being convinced that Aston Martin would be the right one, with the 33-year-old confirmed as partner to Lance Stroll from 2021 on Thursday.

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The 33-year-old has confirmed, though, he did consider retirement. Asked as to how close was such a call, he replied: "Close!"

"I don't know, is there a measure of how close you can get," added Vettel. 'It was close in terms of having lots of thoughts, and deciding ultimately that I had to put myself first, what's best for me.

"I've spent the last weeks and months thinking quite a lot about my future, what is the best thing to do. This felt like the right thing to do

"What I've decided now I believe is the best for me, and I'm looking forward to proving that."

Vettel insists, though, the decision was still "not an easy call", due to the fact "the last few weeks and months have been quite intense for me", but ultimately was convinced by the progress the team, as Racing Point, has made this season.

He added: "It was a different and new situation to be in. As I've put out from day one, I felt like I wanted to remain in Formula 1 if there was something that really attracted me.

"It's been getting more and more clear that the team's performances this year have been more and more encouraging.

"Even more so, though, it's the fact that where the regulations are going to a more and more level playing field, there will be a lot of firsts.

"It will be a first time for the team to be in a position to have probably the same money as other teams and show what they are capable of.

"Anything I can do to help I'm very excited about and looking forward to it. Things are coming at the right time."