Four-time Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel has been called a ‘whiner’ and told to retire from motorsport over his clime change activism by double World Rally title winner Walter Rohrl.
Having won four consecutive championships with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013, Vettel remains on the F1 grid with the Aston Martin team, though he has been unable to challenge for race victories in his past few seasons.
In May the German appeared on the BBC’s Question Time programme, where he admitted he was a ‘hypocrite’ for being an environmental activist as well as a racing driver. The 34-year-old said he questions his future involvement in motorsport on a regular basis.
‘I’m very concerned when it comes to the future, so these topics when it comes to energy, energy dependence and where we’re going in the future,’ Vettel explained. ‘Certain things are in my control and certain things are not. It’s my passion to drive a car. Every time I step in the car, I love it. When I get out of the car, of course I’m thinking as well: “Is this something we should do, travel the world, wasting resources?”
‘[My continued involvement in F1] is something that I’m asking myself. There’s certain things that are in my control, and certain things are not. There’s things that I do because I feel I can do them better. Do I take the plane every time? No, not when I can take the car. But there’s certain things in my control, and certain things outside. Action should have been taken a long time ago. We shouldn’t depend on [energy] prices we don’t dictate.’
Now, Vettel’s compatriot Rohrl has made the bizarre claim that Vettel’s climate activism is the reason he has not won a fifth world championship, and means he should step away from the sport entirely.
‘I once wondered what happened to him,’ Rohrl told Bild am Sonntag. ‘But if after 15 years in motorsport I come to my senses and now think I’m an environmental sinner, then I have to stop – that’s enough!
‘He can’t whine that he wants to do something for the environment and fly around the world in Formula 1 at the same time. You have to consistently live your life according to that. I like him and from my point of view, I hope he doesn’t abseil off motorways as Greenpeace keep doing to paralyse public transport,’ added Rohrl.
Vettel’s environmental activism has increased in recent years, and he works with several organisations on projects including access to water and saving bees. He was also spotted cleaning up fans’ litter from the stands at last year’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone and is a regular visible ally of the LGBTQ+ community.
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