Sebastian Vettel has talked about his early years in Formula 1 in the new ARD documentary Being Sebastian Vettel and how the German manufacturer BMW initially supported him before letting him slip away.
The four-time F1 world champion commented: “In the end, the whole story with BMW really didn’t work out as planned. […] I actually had one foot in the door because my contract with BMW stated that I would receive a seat in Formula 1. But that never materialized.”
His first appearance in F1 was during a Grand Prix weekend in the Friday practice at the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix in Istanbul, immediately setting the fastest time.
In 2007, he also debuted in the Grand Prix with BMW Sauber. With the regular driver, Robert Kubica, out due to injury, reserve driver Vettel stepped in for the United States Grand Prix in Indianapolis – and immediately scored his first point in the championship.
However, that was all: BMW let Vettel pave his own path. Explaining the reasons in the new television documentary, Vettel said: “During my time at Sauber, there was a ‘rumor’ circulating that Sebastian wasn’t that fast and wasn’t that good. And yes, I can understand how people might have gotten that impression. Maybe there was even some truth in it, as I needed a bit of time before everything clicked into place.”
“Then, the whole situation turned because, from BMW’s side, I wouldn’t say there was less interest, but simply that there wasn’t the same motivation behind it.”
What he lacked was a clear path to follow: “Here’s your seat. Next year we’ll do this, the following year we’ll do that.”
Vettel found this opportunity within the Red Bull organization: just weeks after making his F1 debut with BMW Sauber, he became a full-time driver for Toro Rosso.
Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, stated in Vettel’s new documentary: “Thank God that the people at Sauber weren’t convinced of Vettel’s skills, which meant we could get him. And then it became clear that here was someone who not only had the speed but was also technically skilled and willing to work hard.”
According to Vettel, his move from BMW Sauber to Toro Rosso was ultimately decided at the very top of Red Bull: “In the end, Dietrich Mateschitz said, ‘Let’s not waste too much time discussing this. Let’s give the guy a chance. If it works, fantastic. If not, no big deal.'”
A little over a year after making the jump to Toro Rosso, it became evident that things had gone very well: he achieved a sensational victory at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix at Monza – the first F1 victory for a team owned by the Red Bull group.
In Vettel’s documentary, Lewis Hamilton said: “I think that was a really defining moment, showing that this guy has what it takes to become a world champion.”
Marko added that “it was thanks to this success that we brought him to Red Bull for the following year.”
There, Vettel also secured the team’s first victory in the history of Formula 1 before becoming champion for the first time in 2010. By then, BMW had already withdrawn from Formula 1.
Vettel acknowledged that a “certain amount of luck” also played a role in how his career unfolded.
“Having the right people at the right time, the right things happening, and so on. But you still have to deliver the right performance. And I think a lot of what we call luck is really in your hands.”
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
