International press comments on the announcement by four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel that he would end his career in Formula 1 after this season:

Great Britain

Telegraph:

"Sebastian Vettel was the principled but stubborn star who made Red Bull F1 royalty.

Whether Vettel is among the top 20 drivers of all time is debatable, but the affection shown towards him by his peers is undeniable.

The German (...) has always been a bit different.

(...) Vettel was in many ways an odd choice to lead a cheeky young Red Bull team that was all about image and branding.

But they were undoubtedly a brilliant combination.”

"Independent":

"From climate activist and fighter for LGBT+ rights to garbage collector and war critic - Sebastian Vettel has long seen himself as more than just a racing driver.

However, today's inevitable announcement that the youngest F1 world champion in history will retire at the end of this season has shocked many.

(...) After a 300th and final Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi in November - a fitting number to conclude - the German's wide-ranging interests and passions could frankly take him anywhere.

Pit lane, politics, activism, philanthropy, media - you name it.

Vettel has the world at his feet and, to quote the man himself, there is still a race to win.

Only time will tell what this race will be like.”

Daily Mail:

So where does he stand in the pantheon?

Given his failure to win a title in five years at Ferrari, and his gradual failures, mean that while he would warrant inclusion in a list of the sport's top 20 drivers, it wouldn't seriously threaten my top 10.

He is probably the third best of his time.

(Lewis) Hamilton and Fernando Alonso are ahead of him.”

Italy

"Gazzetta dello Sport":

"The day when a driver who has won four Formula 1 world championships and driven for Ferrari for six years announces his retirement can only cause melancholy.

(...) Over time, Vettel has also brought something else to Formula 1, which he loved so much: the maturity of a family man, the sensitivity of a person who has always paid attention to social issues, the courage of a People who are ready to fight against any form of discrimination.

(...) It is no coincidence that yesterday, after the announcement of his retirement, the whole GP world (and not only) had only nice words for him.

It's hard not to share them.”

Spain

"AS":

"In Germany, Vettel never aroused the enthusiasm that his predecessor, Kaiser Schumacher, received.

But he is undoubtedly one of the absolute nobility of Formula 1. He drove the best car at the time, that's true, and he had no competition at all for two of his world titles (2011 and 2013).

But he fought against the best Alonso and against champions like Hamilton and Button.”

"Marca":

"Vettel leaves as a controversial four-time world champion.

He has one of the best CVs in Formula 1, but he is suspected of having a totally dominant car to thank (...) With Ferrari he had a winning car in 2017 and 2018, but there it is he lacked leadership and daring.

That is what he is most accused of: that, unlike true champions, he was never better than his vehicle.”

"Mundo Deportivo":

"The driver with the third most victories in Formula 1 (53, two more than Prost) says goodbye.

The exit can trigger an earthquake, because it frees up a place that Alonso, Schumacher, Ricciardo, De Vries and Hulkenberg, among others, will fight for.”

Switzerland

"Blick":

"Vettel, who has often caused offense with his actions in recent years, is simply fed up, wants to be a role model for his growing children and promises that it will be better in 2023, when the engineers purchased from Mercedes and Red Bull should make the car faster, Vettel was not enough of a guarantee for success.”

"Neue Zürcher Zeitung":

"Motorsport loses a great athlete - and a mature athlete.

Something's gone.

He hasn't been really happy since he left Red Bull Racing, where he was the first home-grown champion in the early 10's and thus the model for Max Verstappen."