Sebastian Vettel has admitted that he'll miss the rush of adrenalin that comes from competing in Formula 1, following his decision to retire from the sport at the end of 2022 with 299 race starts and four world titles under his belt.
The 35-year-old also said he didn't know what his next steps in life would be, and that he wasn't taking future success in a new field for granted despite his impressive track record in motorsport.
“I’m sad to not have the adrenaline rush anymore," the former Red Bull, Ferrari and Aston Martin driver told a recent edition of the Beyond The Grid podcast. "Sad to not have the competition, that feeling to push myself, the car, the elements to the limit.
“But I’m looking forward to what’s next," he continued. “I think there’s so much to learn. There are plenty of things that I’m interested in and I would love to give room.
"At the minute, I’m just trying to keep an empty schedule because I don’t want to commit to anything," he added. “I want to let that side of me come out and I’m curious to learn about myself."
That might involve going back into education and perhaps going to university, which he never had time for when his focus was exclusively on developing his motor racing career.
“Yeah that’s also an option, definitely," he acknowledged. “I haven’t had much time to do much else, I have no degree," adding that in many ways he was "starting from scratch" in the next phase of his life and career.
Vettel admitted that he "might feel terrible" when he fully came to terms with life outside racing, and would be surprised if whatever he did next achieved anything like the level of success he had in F1.
"I think it would be the wrong approach to say that, ‘Yeah I’m a champion, I’m going to be a champion at everything else that I touch'," he said, adding that it wouldn't stop him trying.
“I don’t expect to be, let’s put it this way,” he added. “You never know, but I think it would be a miracle if I was because obviously I’ve done this my entire life.
"I think the ambition is natural - you have it as a competitor and it can show in other things - but I don’t expect to make the news, if you see what I mean."
Despite everything, Vettel remained convinced that it was the right time to step away from F1. "I think it is a fantastic world, and a world that can suck you in and you can stay in forever sort of thing.
"It comes with big commitment and the way I do the job is full on, so it would feel wrong to do it some sort of half way.
“I love winning. I love the competition. And to win, you need to do everything. That’s my conviction. If you’re not prepared to do everything anymore, then it’s time to make room for others.
"Obviously I can’t be driving forever, but to be honest maybe I’ve always been a little bit different to the degree that I didn’t depend on it.
“I have three kids at home, I really enjoy that and I want to see them grow as well," he explained. "I am a racing driver yes, but when I got home I really enjoyed the bits of life that everybody is able to enjoy."
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