Sebastian Vettel

Biography

Sebastian Vettel is a four-time Formula One World Champion and one of the most successful drivers of the modern era. Since leaving F1, he has become an advocate for sustainability both inside and beyond the sport, and championed diversity in motorsport.

Starting out like many of his contemporaries in karting, Sebastian moved through the ranks to Formula 3 before becoming a test driver for BMW Sauber. He made his F1 debut for Torro Rosso, driving for a season and a half before being promoted to the team’s senior partner, Red Bull, then still a relative newcomer to the sport. The following season saw him win the first of this four titles, becoming the youngest ever World Champion at the time. There followed two more Championship wins in the next two seasons, and then a season in which he won 13 Grands Prix, including a record nine consecutive victories, to claim his fourth title in a row. Frequently compared to his compatriot Michael Schumacher, in both his driving style, professional approach, and modest background, the season saw him equal Schumacher's single-season win record. Sebastian left Red Bull for Ferrari, taking two second places in the Championship with the Italian team. He then swapped Ferrari for a season with Aston Martin before retiring from Formula 1 as one of the sport’s most successful drivers with a total of 53 Grand Prix wins.

Whilst still involved in aspects of motorsport, including in the media, Sebastian has used his platform to highlight issues he is passionate about. In particular, the environment, sustainability and responsible business. He has criticised the scheduling of the F1 season for creating unnecessarily lengthy journeys for people and freight. He dismissed objections from the sport’s authorities and wore a Pride flag at the Hungarian Grand Prix. He has established V5 Projects, the goal of which Sebastian describes as “to encourage people to think about our future – what we want to preserve and what we can do better”. V5 is an umbrella for a range of activities, from circular economy education to rainforest and marine preservation to organising an all-women karting race during the weekend of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Noted for his humour, humanity and an unconventional approach, he has helped clear litter from the stands after a British Grand Prix, and helped schoolchildren in Austria and Japan to build hotels for bees, with the latter drawing in F1 drivers and managers to create Buzzin’ Corner at Japan’s Suzuka Circuit, the black and yellow kerb of the corner denoting the location of a series of insect hotels they built there. Sebastian was presented with The Perfect World Foundation Award for his efforts to highlight environmental and biodiversity issues, and appeared on BBC One’s Question Time, debating subjects from climate and energy to Brexit.

From the environment to high performance, mental health to teamwork, Sebastian draws together his experiences and his passions. He considers how elite performance, long-term thinking and environmental accountability can coexist, touching on leadership, legacy and driving meaningful change. He looks at what high performance means, the pressure to deliver, and the impact on mental health, arguing it should be discussed in the same terms as physical health.