Sebastian Vettel, a Champion on and off the Racing Track
Sebastian Vettel is a four-time Formula One World Champion, with 53 wins, 122 podiums, 57 pole positions, 38 fastest laps (up to Dec. 3, 2021), and is the youngest World Champion in Formula One history. At 34 years old, he has already built a legacy that many of us can only dream of achieving. And yet, Vettel remains humble about his victories, instead using his fame to champion change through genuine actions.
During the Formula One 2021 season, we watched Vettel spend hours cleaning up litter in the grandstands after the British Grand Prix. This is a simple, yet powerful action that sets an example for thousands if not millions of people watching around the world. The images and videos were virally shared on social media and Vettel became known as an environmental activist. And while this particular action of picking up litter brought awareness about Vettel’s environmental interests, he has been taking part in several initiatives for the past 18 months.
Last year during the lockdown, he completed an internship at an organic bio-farm. Ahead of the Styrian Grand Prix, he helped build a bee hotel close to the Red Bull Ring with a local Austrian primary school – part of an initiative to create new habitats for bees for which he has become an ambassador. On his way to Monza, Vettel made a pit-stop in Iceland, visiting an air capture and storage plant, Climeworks Orca plant, citing it’s “the world’s first and largest climate-positive direct air capture and storage plant.” Ahead of a protest during the Dutch Grand Prix, Vettel spoke about the changes Formula One must embrace for climate in the future. Leading up to the British Grand Prix, Vettel visited a local school to see what they are learning about the environment, and he told the children that he has changed his lifestyle at home and switched to renewable energy. And following the Silverstone litter pick-up, Vettel went to a recycling factory the next day to learn about the process.
As much as Vettel clearly demonstrates his interest in the environment, he has also displayed his support for human rights through statements, whether speaking about it or displaying it on his helmet designs or wearing displays of allyship – images that have also gone viral advocating on important human rights causes. Same as with the litter activity, these are seemingly simple gestures, yet coming from such a high-profile person, these gestures become powerful.
His latest gone-viral initiative has been amidst a highly controversial Formula One Grand Prix this weekend at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. One of the controversies is over the rights for women. Saudi Arabian women have only been allowed to drive a car since 2017. Vettel wanted to do something ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and so he organized a karting event for women-only in Saudi Arabia, with the hashtag #raceforwomen.
Vettel commented, "Obviously in Saudi Arabia women have only been allowed since 2017 to drive a car so some of them had a license, others they did not, some of them were huge F1 enthusiasts, others had nothing to do with F1 or racing before today. So, it was a good mix of women from different backgrounds and a great event, everyone was extremely happy.”
Vettel continues demonstrating his passion through action, in this opportunity turning women rights concerns in Saudi Arabia into a chance to learn more. Rather than simply speaking out, Vettel seeks to understand.
Vettel has no public social media and no sponsorship for his activism, he does it because he is passionate and believes it’s the right thing to do. “I’m not doing these things to just have people look at it,” Vettel said. “The first thing that I always want to ensure is that actually whatever I do, it makes sense. And it actually helps the place where we are and whatever we are doing.”
“It’s great if people are taking interest, and it therefore inspires others to maybe do similar, to think about it or question their activities and their behavior, to just see how they could possibly contribute.”
Vettel campaigns for a better future through concrete actions and he encourages and inspires his fans to do the same. Vettel has a strong fanbase, so it makes for a solid argument that his actions are making a significant impact around the world.
Article by CM | Salracing | December 2021.
