Picture Credit: Formula 1
F ormer world champion Sebastian Vettel had one of the most topsy-turvy races of the season as he went from last at the grid to strong points finish in his final outing around Suzuka. In an emotional weekend, the German driver started the race from P9 on the grid, but an amazing drive favoured the brave as he finished a season-best P6 at the action-packed 2021 F1 Japanese GP last weekend.
The 35-year-old ended at the very first corner of the Suzuka circuit during the Japanese GP after colliding with Fernando Alonso's Alpine before snipping off the track. That collision dropped him to last, but an early pit stops for intermediates when the race got started after a red flag period paid big, as Vettel surged up the order to take a P6 finish, matching his best result of 2022.
"Obviously, it started really well because I had a phenomenal start but then nowhere to go, a lot of aquaplaning on the left, lost the car, touched Fernando, spun, was last," he said post-race. So, it looked like that was it, but we had a great recovery," he said after the race.
Meanwhile, he recently claimed that he will not be remembered for long as 'nothing lasts forever.' While speaking to Aston Martin, Vettel said that people could decide if they want to remember him, as it does not offend him.
"It's not important to me how I am remembered, but I always try to succeed - sometimes I don't succeed. I always try to treat people with respect and be nice. If that's what people remember about me, then that will make me happy," he said.
Speaking of his F1 career, Sebastian Vettel further revealed that he had to mature earlier than his friends at school as he was taking his racing career very seriously and was dealing with a lot of adults.
"Being a Formula One driver is an accelerated way of living. I think that's true for most professional sportspeople. You have everything that happens in normal life, but it's more compressed in terms of time. I had to mature earlier than my friends at school because I was taking my racing career very seriously and dealing with a lot of adults," he said.
Meanwhile, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen successfully defended his world champion crown after a soaked race at Suzuka on Sunday. Verstappen dominated on the wet track to clinch his 12th race of the season, just one off the record set by Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel and clinch the title over challengers Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez.