Vettel looking forward to 'turning everything off'

Sebastian Vettel is looking forward to some much needed down time this winter to recharge his batteries after an "exhausting" 2018 campaign.

The Ferrari driver's efforts yielded five wins this year, and while he gave arch-rival Lewis Hamilton a good run for his money until the end of the summer, the German failed once again to bring the title back to the House of Maranello.

A blend of personal mistakes and team errors undermined his season, and have left Vettel drained and worn-out.

Hamilton and Vettel cap off season with helmet swap

"We've got some events coming but things that I look forward to, after this year, to be very honest, is to turn everything off," he said in Abu Dhabi.

"I need some time for myself. It has been a quite difficult and exhausting year for me. I definitely need a bit of a gap.

"I'm pretty sure, based on the last winters, that very soon, usually after 111 days, I'm very, very hungry again for the next race."

Vettel hasn't concocted any elaborate plans to regroup in the coming months, the four-time world champion just seeking to enjoy a normal laid-back life at home.

"Just enjoy home," he said. "Enjoy my family, friends, do stuff that you don't usually have much time for, some DIY, do some fixing at home. Small jobs."

©WRI

After his initial successful push against Hamilton in the championship this year, Vettel's challenge slowly lost momentum, with the Scuderia stalwart winning just one race - Spa - in the secod half of the season.

"Looking back I haven't been at the top of my game," he conceded.

"I can be better than I was at times this year. I don't think I ever had any problems raising my hand if I made a mistake.

"I don't think I need to change things upside down but certainly I can adjust and get stronger.

"Having said that though, I think we also had a lot of races where we got everything out of the car and the package and I felt that I did everything I could."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.