Vettel: There are topics where 'you can't remain silent'

Four-time F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel says he couldn't remain silent on the Ukraine crisis following Russia's decision to invade and rage war against its neighboring country.

Following president Vladimir Putin's decision to put his country on a pat to war, Vettel was the first driver to speak and take a stance on the conflict, warning that he would refuse to race in Sochi later this year.

The German driver won't need to fulfil that engagement as the Russian Grand Prix has wisely been scraped from F1's 2022 calendar.

Contrary to a few of his colleagues, but like many others, Vettel says he wasn't afraid to express his opinion on the Ukraine crisis.

"I think everyone has an attitude, he said last week in Barcelona. "The question is whether everyone always dares to share the attitude.

"I’m not shy about that, quite the opposite. I think there are certain topics where you can’t remain silent."

• Read also: Russian drivers banned from competing in Britain

Vettel also speaks as a director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association. But the 34-year-old doesn't have an issue with anyone of his peers keeping their opinion to themselves, as he insists the conflict itself is more important than any individual views.

"Right now everyone is busy with themselves, but of course, this is an issue that is bigger than anything else," he said.

"I’m sure all the other drivers share the opinion. Anything else would surprise me.

"But it’s not important at first whether we speak out or not. The important thing is that maybe the situation will relax, that it will come to an end.

"I don’t think anyone wants it to escalate further and get further out of control, but that seems very difficult at the moment."

"Whether someone drives fast or slow, whether the car is good or not, it’s all secondary."

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