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seb-boo · 2 months

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NZZ Interview with Sebastian Vettel | English translation under the cut

He is a four-time Formula 1 world champion and lives in Switzerland. Vettel explains how racing and environmental responsibility go together. And will he even return to the premier class?

Mr. Vettel, have you already done something good for the environment today?

I was on my bike. In theory, I produced electricity, but it's not yet being fed into the grid. However, I also emitted more CO2 in that hour than if I had stayed in bed. But what I find exciting is what resonates with this question: always having to do something good and talk about it. That's not the central point for me. It's important that everyone has a healthy attitude to the fact that our world is in a mess and what they can do to prevent it from getting any worse. It's about attitude, not about doing a good deed every day.

Would you rather do good and not talk about it?

You actually become a little more cautious when you talk enthusiastically and with conviction about how you have changed your behavior or what else is going through your mind, then you often immediately get the finger pointed at you. For me, it's not about the obvious things like solar panels or electric cars. Much more important is the fact that you take a closer look at many things, that you become aware of something and then question your own behavior patterns or decisions.

But you are actually doing good, as we know.

I can hardly walk past something that others have dropped, be it a piece of garbage or even just plastic. I wonder what must be going on inside people who just throw things out of their car windows and why people don't think even one step ahead. It's not right to expect that someone will pick it up at some point.

Is that how you bring up your children?

That carries over, of course. When we go for a walk in the woods together and they see a sweet wrapper lying there, they exclaim: Is that really necessary? But I don't want the walk together to be tainted in a negative way, with only this one thing that wasn't nice sticking in their minds - and not the good air or the funny cloud. Patterns of behavior can inspire me when I see that the little ones are already dealing with packaging waste differently on their own.

In the past, racing drivers also moved to beautiful Thurgau because it is so close to the airport. How do you get around?

Many people have this classic image in their heads: he's a racing driver, so he always drives a car and always drives fast. But to be honest, I don't have that need. It was certainly different when I first got my driver's license. Incidentally, today I also prefer driving again compared to my active Formula 1 days, I can enjoy it more. Nowadays, I'd rather take the car than get on a plane.

Do cars even have a future in individual transportation?

Of course, we are very spoiled in Switzerland when it comes to public transport—because it works. I really like public transport, especially when I want to go to Zurich. You can also get anywhere in Thurgau, it just takes a little longer. Where I live, there's nothing but a letterbox and a bus stop.

A four-time Formula 1 world champion can do that so easily?

Of course, I have no problem with that at all. I also don't understand when other well-known people develop a paranoia that they could be recognized or harassed. I always say to them: yes, you can take the bus or train too. Of course, I'm not Roger Federer, it's probably a bit different for him. But I think people are mostly on the move because they want to get somewhere and not because they want to recognize someone.

Lewis Hamilton once told the NZZ that he also appreciated being able to move around in peace during his time in Zurich.

For me, it's the Swiss mentality, which involves more discretion. In the beginning, nobody knew me anyway because I was far too young. And the country isn't exactly a Formula 1 hotspot either. But even when I was traveling in Scandinavia last year with my VW bus and family, I didn't have any unpleasant encounters.

Public bus, VW bus - is that your new pace of life?

Yes, my pace has slowed down considerably. There are things that I miss. But it's not that I miss the adrenaline rush of speed. I lived for the moment, the competition. That's what I miss most. As intense and fast-paced as my old life was, I sometimes surprise myself that I can now cope so well with the slower pace. Everything adapts to the pace of the family. You need and learn patience with children. I'm rather surprised that some people think: once a racing driver, always a racing driver. I never fit into many of the clichés anyway, I rather enjoyed things that were considered boring.

Do you seek freedom on your camping trips?

I don't just want to catch up on freedom, I also want to pass on the freedom that I had and have myself to the children. Reading about sea creatures in a book is different from standing in the North Sea and seeing a lugworm in real life.

But the extreme tension in motorsport, this total focus, is it that easy to get away from it?

It's a process, and it's probably still ongoing for me too. Sometimes I miss the tension from the old world. But my days are still full. I still haven't found the time for a lot of things I wanted to do. The result in sport is everything, and because I come from this very extrinsic world, I can say that I still don't have that much to show for my retirement from Formula 1.

Can you explain that in more detail?

The eternal external assessment that I had as a child is completely gone, there are no more results lists. I have lots of ideas and I do a lot more things than in all the years before. I wanted exactly this kind of idle time, where I don't dive straight back into the next full-time job. I thought about quitting for several years. And at some point, you can no longer push away the thought of ending your career. I'm trying to translate this passion that I've lived out in motorsport into another language, to find something new. All the while knowing that the new thing may never trigger the same feeling as before.

There are skiers who stop skiing and then start racing.

When I go skiing, I also ski fast. But I don't shoot to be the fastest, I have more fun with the turns. There are many things I try my hand at. For example, I really like working with wood. I'd like to be more perfect at it, and of course I get annoyed when something doesn't work out right away. But how can you the first time? But your own personality is somehow involved in everything.

What is your benchmark for a happy day today?

It starts with asking yourself: What does happiness mean? What is contentment? What do I want to do with my life? That is a very good thing.

Do you like being a family man?

It was a very conscious decision to start a family back then. At 26, I was very young by today's standards. I remember when our first daughter was born, I read in a brochure at the hospital that babies can sleep up to 20 hours a day. Great, I said to my wife, that works. Well, we didn't have a brochure baby. It took three years before she slept through the night.

Have you given up a lot because of motorsport?

When you're in the machinery of sport, it goes on and on. I was amazed at how much time I spent on the road, even though I always spent as much time as possible at home and gave up a lot in return. Now that I really have more time, different relationships are developing with the children. I can tell them a bedtime story every night instead of just twice a week. When we go to museums, I can experience how children see the world. I find that really exciting, also because it involves a lot of identity. On the one hand, my own imprint, on the other, the imprint from outside. It also makes me question myself.

Your identity is that of a champion.

One of the exciting things is the question of what it did to me, how it shaped my world. I think I lived it very intensely. And I can well understand if someone wants more and more of the jubilation, the success, and even becomes addicted to it. But I always had a healthy distance to it, my identity didn't depend too much on it.

What was the trigger for you to become more interested in the environment than in motorsport?

There wasn't one moment when it clicked for me. As you get older, you perceive things differently, more strongly. When people talk about the future in Formula 1, they mean the next season or the season after next. Everything else was very abstract, the future was just a definition in the dictionary. But suddenly you have children, you want to be there for them and protect them for the rest of their lives, if possible. Life happens, a real future emerges, the word becomes tangible. And at some point I thought: stop, something is wrong here. What is actually wrong with our world? Aren't there much more important things than what has been important to me so far? I am a very curious person and am quick to ask questions of myself and others. And suddenly a huge world has opened up in front of me - with huge problems. Bigger than just the problem of making a racing car faster. I started to take a real interest in politics for the first time.

That sounds like a radical change.

Starting with the question: What is my life anyway? What is this footprint that everyone is talking about? How do you measure it? I did some research and started writing down how I move around. And while I was collecting data and information, I started to change my life. I no longer flew in a private jet, which used to be the norm for reasons of time and comfort. And lo and behold, it was no problem to stand in line with everyone else at the airport. Even twelve hours in the car to Barcelona didn't harm my race preparation, we enjoyed stopping off on the way and discovering Avignon, for example. The things I gave up were not freedoms, but habits.

But for many drivers, having their own car means freedom.

Most cars spend 98% of their time parked, so they are more like stationary vehicles than cars. But what would our cities look like if intelligent mobility meant that parking garages were no longer needed, for example? There will also be radical changes in the cityscape, like when cars replaced horses. I understand that many people are afraid when things change. But they miss out on the opportunity to see how much better it could be for them if cities became more livable, safer, and cleaner. Don't get me wrong: I'm not one of those people who groan when a car drives past me and immediately feel ill.

Back to our problems: Is e-mobility the solution?

I believe it is a solution. It makes sense, especially in terms of the efficiency of the drive. There is still a lot of movement in this area, including the issues of raw materials, disposal and energy consumption during production. But the materials for the combustion engine also come from somewhere. The electric car makes perfect sense in cities, and it will also play a central role elsewhere. The range can be planned, very few people get up in the morning and say: Today I want to go to Paris and back again spontaneously. As for the alleged lack of emotion when driving, I can tell you: yes, you can feel something. In fact, I wouldn't want to drive anything else, it's so pleasant. There are still challenges, but they can be solved. The question is what would be the alternative?

They are looking into synthetic fuels, even demonstrating them in Formula 1 racing cars.

We all, individually and as a society, need to find a solution to all the emissions we cause because of the way we move, how we live or what we eat. There are already a lot of possibilities and it would be lazy to say that it won't work. Synthetic fuels are a bridging technology; hydrogen, with or without a combustion engine, or fuel cells could be the solution for heavy transportation. We just need to step up our efforts to get away from the old. There is no single ideal solution to the problem that we have always dreamed of in Formula 1.

You yourself have also invested in a Swiss company that stores carbon dioxide in stone.

There are always many exciting approaches. I had a look at what the company Climeworks is doing in Iceland, where it works very well due to the geological conditions. If you are interested in something like that, you automatically slip into other subject areas.

Have you ever thought about visiting the ETH University?

It's represented in practically all future-oriented fields. I'm still thinking about whether and if so, what I should study. After leaving school it would have been mechanical engineering, but that would be too dry for me today. I would perhaps prefer to do something creative, with my hands.

Maybe an apprenticeship instead of studying?

I've already done a few courses in agriculture. I came to the subject via nutrition, which is hugely important for professional athletes. Of course I had heard that organic is better. But what exactly is organic, why is it better, what do they do differently? During the pandemic, I did a short internship on a farm. It was grounding in the best sense of the word. Being a farmer is a great job. And I think it's a shame that it's not appreciated enough in our society.

How do you feel about Formula 1? Do you still watch it at all?

Yes, I do. I wanted to try a withdrawal at the first Grand Prix after my last race. I didn't actually watch the practice session, but just before qualifying I had to give in and switched it on. I also watched the race. It wasn't as strange a feeling as I had previously thought, watching and no longer sitting in the car. I then watched a few races throughout the year, or at least the highlights. Because of course I'm still interested in the sport, even if I'm no longer so close to it. I watch with my wife and usually commentate unconsciously. She says it's the first time she's really understood the sport. And if I'm right about a boxing strategy, then that goes down like oil.

Is it still appropriate to watch men driving around in circles for an hour and a half?

I'm far too close to it to say that it's not. I love this sport, it's so multifaceted and full of depth. But I also understand that many things are too complex to be understood in an hour and a half. For me, the fascination is still there. But of course I'm not neutral either.

Do you have a favorite you're rooting for?

Last year belonged to Max Verstappen. Sure, a few people find that boring, but I don't think it gives his performance enough respect and recognition. I for one am full of admiration. Even for someone like the ski racer Marco Odermatt. It's not that the others are doing anything wrong, they really do try everything. But Max and Marco do it so much better. They make the sport shine. That inspires me. Also because I still know what success feels like.

So no boredom at all?

Everyone has their own view of excitement. Someone from England recently asked me: "Tell me, skiing, can you watch it on TV?" I said: "Sure, it's a great thing here, it's the national sport in Austria and Switzerland." He replied: "It's really boring, you're just racing against the clock." I said: "Yes, but you can see what position someone is in and this and that . . ." To which he replied: "Okay, but they're not racing against each other."

Are your children actually allowed to watch the Netflix series "Drive to Survive"?

They haven't asked yet. But I only watched one episode myself, back when the series came out. I thought it was a bit weird because it was so unrealistic. But of course I understand that it brought a lot of attention and a new audience to motorsport. You can't do that with hours of explanations on how to adjust a damper. With Netflix, viewers feel like they learn more, also because there is more drama. But when I feel the need to find out more about the current Formula 1, I don't reach for the remote control, I reach for the phone.

Formula 1 cannot close itself off from climate change.

I have a very strong opinion about what Formula 1 was, what it is and what it can be. Big sports are also big platforms, they can do a lot of positive things because they reach so many people. That's why I also believe that this brings with it a great responsibility. Formula 1 can no longer avoid the big issues of our time. I still remember what was drummed into us during media training in the junior series: don't take a stand on the topics of sex, money and politics, don't have an opinion, preferably don't say anything. Nobody can afford to do that nowadays, let alone an entire sport. There are issues that Formula 1 has to face up to.

What are they?

The type of vehicle drive is key, even if cars only account for a small proportion of emissions. But the engine shapes the image. I see this as a huge opportunity for Formula 1 to set a good example instead of riding around on something old. Otherwise, I see a great danger that motorsport will be threatened with extinction in the long term if it continues to involve things that are no longer accepted by society. In Germany, you can already feel this to a certain extent, the hype no longer exists. Is that just because no German is winning at the moment, or is the country a bit further along in this respect and dealing with other issues?

Would you be interested in becoming an environmental ambassador for the series?

Change has to come from within, the skiers are the best example. When I talk to people from the ski circus, they see how climate change is affecting the racing calendar. In Formula 1, the race in Imola had to be canceled because the ground could no longer absorb the rainfall and the whole region was flooded. And in Canada, all the wind had to do was change direction and the smoke from the nearby forest fires would have made a race impossible. A lot of money is involved in motorsport. It costs money to take care of certain things, but it has to be included. Last year, I cautiously started to raise awareness myself with a small project to protect insects. The loss of biodiversity is a very serious issue. I also have some ideas for the new season. That's why I'm also talking to Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali about what can be done.

One last question about professional orientation: With Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari in 2025, a lot is shifting in Formula 1. How close are you to a comeback?

I was surprised by this change. The Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff didn't call me, but we briefly exchanged text messages. But so far it's not an issue for me, also because at 36 I still have all the time in the world. So it's not going away. But my omens haven't changed. I think I've learned and understood a lot in this one year without racing, including about myself. Being on the other side has had a big impact on me and many questions have come up. So far, there are no active plans.

Is that a definite no?

No. I also said back then that there wouldn't be a clear no in that sense, because I believe that everything is a process. And maybe there will come a point when I say: yes, I would like to go back. When I get it sorted mentally so that it suddenly makes sense again. At the moment, however, I'm doing very well without Formula 1. There's no definite no, but there's no definite yes either.

Are you doing something good for yourself today?

I'm going for a medical check-up now. It's compulsory if you want to keep your racing license.

#sebastian vettel #2024 #ret!seb #translated with DeepL #long post #I have lots of thoughts but it mostly just boils down to loving him

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