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Vettel could 'maybe race something else' after F1

Sebastian Vettel has a few ideas about what he'll be doing in his life after Formula 1, including possibly racing in a different category of motorsport.

The 32-year-old Ferrari driver is rumored to be in talks with his employer about his future with the Scuderia, although the current disruption of the 2020 season may have put any big decisions on the backburner.

Regardless of the outcome of his negotiations with the House of Maranello, there will come a day when Vettel will leave F1 behind, but not necessarily the world of motorsport.

"If I'm realistic, I'm not going to be here in ten years," he told Motorsport.com. "So I think this is something you naturally start to think about.”

"I think I'm in a very fortunate position that I can probably try and do a lot of things, once I have decided to stop racing in F1. Maybe race something else, maybe do something different in motorsport or do something completely different outside.

"I have some ideas, but I haven't decided. I'm quite relaxed."

Last month, Scuderia boss Mattia Binotto said that Vettel remains the Italian outfit's first option for 2021, with teammate Charles Leclerc's services secured by Ferrari until the end of 2024.

But reports in Italy suggest that Binotto's offer is a one-year deal that includes a significant pay cut.

Vettel insists money is important in light of an F1 driver's potentially short-live professional career and the risks it bears. But happiness in one's endeavours is "key" he insists.

"It depends what's important to you, what drives you," Vettel said. "And that's fair. If money is your motivator then it can drive you very far and make you very successful.

"There's a lot of sportsmen, businessmen that thrive for money. I think the question really is whether people have a sense of enough. That's not just valid for Formula 1.

©Ferrari

"We are putting our life in a way also on the line, then you need to show some appreciation for that. Our careers also are shorter than some other careers.

"I think the really important thing is that you are happy, that’s the key.

"Obviously, F1 is a bit of a circus and spoiled circus. Because they have a lot of money involved and money tends to spoil people.

"I think on average that's true. But the question is, like I said, if you have a sense of enough."

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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.

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