Sebastian Vettel will retire from Formula 1 at the end of this season, the driver announced today.
Previously, the star had been in talks with Aston Martin about extending his current deal with the team, but these discussions have seemingly fallen through.
Vettel is currently planning to compete in this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, where he’ll hope to rack up another win to the 53 others he’s scored across his career, which began in 2006.
He said in a statement: “I have had the privilege of working with many fantastic people in Formula 1 over the past 15 years – there are far too many to mention and thank.
“Over the past two years I have been an Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team driver – and, although our results have not been as good as we had hoped, it is very clear to me that everything is being put together that a team needs to race at the very highest level for years to come.”
He added: “I have really enjoyed working with such a great bunch of people. Everyone – Lawrence, Lance, Martin, Mike, the senior managers, the engineers, the mechanics and the rest of the team – is ambitious, capable, expert, committed and friendly, and I wish them all well.
“I hope that the work I did last year and am continuing to do this year will be helpful in the development of a team that will win in the future, and I will work as hard as I can between now and the end of the year with that goal in mind, giving as always my best in the last 10 races.
“The decision to retire has been a difficult one for me to take, and I have spent a lot of time thinking about it; at the end of the year I want to take some more time to reflect on what I will focus on next; it is very clear to me that, being a father, I want to spend more time with my family. But today is not about saying goodbye.
“Rather, it is about saying thank you – to everyone – not least to the fans, without whose passionate support Formula One could not exist.”
More to follow.