F1 | Abu Dhabi GP | Sebastian Vettel: "I will carry this day with me forever"
"I will remember are the gestures of all the team members, the mechanics, the engineers, the catering guys and so on. I will miss Charles" said the four time world champion, who says goodbye to the Prancing Horse after six years together
With a 14th position ends Sebastian Vettel's journey in Ferrari. Surely not a remarkable race on the competitive side, but one to bring along forever for the german, who sais goodbye to his team after six years of commitment to the Prancing Horse.
This "divorce" woud not be so hard to process if it was consensual: Ferrari dumped the four time world champion with a phone call at the start of the year, to later announce Carlos Sainz to replace Vettel. The former Red Bull driver had no choice but to find another team to continue his journey in Formula 1.
Also, the SF1000 didn't make things easier: the 2020 championship is the worst season ever for Ferrari since 1980, with only a sixth place in the constructor championship. Vettel tried to be polite all year long but couldn't contain himself, before his last race in Abu Dhabi, when he said to the media that he couldn't explain the difference from Charles Leclerc' performances.
A lot can be said on this marriage, which didn't bring any championship, but it is not useful, now, to analyze the ifs and buts. Sebastian Vettel gave everything he had to this team, but it wasn't enough.
In the end, what happened on track today is not important anymore. Sebastian Vettel says goodbye to a family, singing a song written on a piece of paper he carried with him in the cockpit during the race. This shows how much Vettel was dedicated to the team and how much he cared for Ferrari and for the team. A great man that certainly the fan will miss.
Che regalo da parte di #Seb5 🥰 🎶#GrazieSeb, we’re crying 😭#essereFerrari 🔴 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/GQWngh1BBb
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) December 13, 2020
The team principal Mattia Binotto wasn't in Yas Marina to properly say good bye to Sebastian, but the team celebrated him anyway honouring him with a commemorative cup engraved with the names of the 14 races he won with the Scuderia.
Our grazie to you, #Seb5 ♥️ #essereFerrari🔴 #GrazieSeb #AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/ga7lEjZsmf
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) December 13, 2020
Another big tribute came from Charles Leclerc, who honoured his team mate with a new helmet design, similar to Vettel's, which displayed the written "Danke Seb".
The perfect content to end such an emotional day ❤️#Seb5 and @Charles_Leclerc’s helmet swap 🥰#essereFerrari 🔴 #AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/bajGHmmh7U
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) December 13, 2020
“This race is not one I will remember - said the four time world champion - but what I will remember are the gestures of all the team members, the mechanics, the engineers, the catering guys and so on. I think the energy has been different today and I felt that, and will carry it with me forever. I will miss Charles. Obviously he gave me a headache here and there, and we are at very different stages of our lives and careers. But he’s certainly a good kid and I think he will go a long way, he will be the man of the future. I hope he gets the car he deserves.
"In general, I hope that everyone can have a better season next year. It has been a very tough and tiring one for the obvious reasons. So I hope next year you will see us smile, see us angry and sad, and that it’s not all hidden behind a mask. That’s the main wish I have. I look forward to starting a new journey, but for now I’m happy to be going back home and recharging”.
