Conductores de la F1 elogian a Vettel tras anunciar su retiro / Sebastian Vettel: Lewis Hamilton pays tribute to retiring Formula One rival

BUDAPEST.- La Fórmula Uno se deshizo en elogios hacia el cuatro veces campeón mundial alemán, Sebastian Vettel, quien este jueves se convirtió en el gran protagonista de la jornada en el Hungaroring, en el marco del Gran Premio de Hungría; donde todos sus colegas y rivales no escatimaron alabanzas hacia el astro de Heppenheim, quien dejará la categoría reina cuando acabe esta temporada.

Conductores de la talla de Fernando Alonso, Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton o «Checo» Pérez se desbordaron en elogios hacia el alemán, calificándolo de «gran rival y amigo», «una gran persona», alguien «generoso», un «modelo a seguir» y de «una carrera fascinante».

Vettel, que el pasado 3 de julio cumplió 35 años, lideró el cuatrienio glorioso de Red Bull (2010-2013), en el que la escudería austriaca ganó de forma seguida los mundiales de pilotos y de constructores.

El alemán debutó en 2007, al sustituir en Sauber al lesionado polaco Robert Kubica durante el Gran Premio de Estados Unidos, en Indianápolis, donde acabó octavo y sumó su primer punto. En 2008, ya como piloto oficial, completó su primera temporada en la categoría reina, asombrando al mundo al ganar el Gran Premio de Italia.

EFE

Sebastian Vettel: Lewis Hamilton pays tribute to retiring Formula One rival

Sebastian Vettel has announced that he will retire from Formula One at the end of the 2022 season; Vettel won four successive World Championships between 2010 and 2013; Watch the Hungarian GP live on Sky Sports this weekend, starting with Practice One at 1pm on Friday

Lewis Hamilton has praised rival Sebastian Vettel for supporting his anti-racism campaigning, after the four-time world champion confirmed he will retire from Formula One at the end of the season.

Vettel announced on Thursday, ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian GP, that he will sign off at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November, which will mark his 300th race.

Hamilton and Vettel both made their F1 debuts in 2007 and would go on to share 10 of the next 13 World Championships from 2008 onwards.

Vettel was repeatedly alongside Hamilton as the Brit took a knee to protest racial inequality during the 2020 season, and has also been a vehement campaigner for other human rights and environmental issues.

“There’s no lack of bravery in Sebastian,” Hamilton said on Thursday, having earlier paid tribute to Vettel on social media.

“He has been one of the very, very few drivers in racing history that has stood for much more than himself. He’s used his voice in things that I’ve fought for and stood by me, he’s taken the knee, he’s gone on his own journey and stood on the grid and fought for things that he believed in, and for the greater good.

“I think he’s just a really beautiful human being and I’m really grateful to have been here in a time that he was racing.

“Watching his World Championships was impressive. I’m sad to have arrived today and seen the news, but I know whatever he goes and does beyond this is going to be even better.”

After making his debut in 2007, Vettel went on to win four consecutive world championships for Red Bull between 2010 and 2013, the first of which made him the sport’s youngest title winner.

The 35-year-old German, who spent six seasons with Ferrari after joining the Italian team in 2015, will see out the remainder of his final campaign with Aston Martin.

Vettel is currently third on the list of all-time Grand Prix winners with 53 victories, trailing only Hamilton and Michael Schumacher, while his 13 victories in 2013 leave him tied with Schumacher for the most wins in a season. www.skysports.com/