When Sebastian Vettel showed his dark side

The four-time German world champion (2010-2013) will leave behind him the memories of a talent as raw as it is precocious, revealed very early by Toro Rosso before becoming the youngest world champion in history with Red Bull, and of remarkable longevity. However, one does not build such a track record without a few bloodshed, clashes and terrible errors of judgment, and Sebastian Vettel is no exception to the rule. The German has, on several occasions, disappointed as well as crossed the line by alienating some of his teammates. Anthology of moments that Sebastian Vettel would like to forget, but which also contributed to forge his legend.

READ ALSO : F1 tributes after Sebastian Vettel announcement

A tumultuous relationship with Mark Webber

After becoming the youngest vice-world champion in history in 2009, Sebastian Vettel has the teeth for his second season with Red Bull, with Mark Webber as his teammate. The Australian and the German dominate the debates at the world championship and find themselves tied on points before the Turkish round in Istanbul. On the 40th lap, pole-sitter Webber leads the debates ahead of Vettel, a perfect result for Red Bull who instructs its two drivers to maintain positions. The German does not see it that way and attempts an overtaking maneuver on the Australian, who does not change his trajectory. Contact is inevitable and the two pilots leave in the background, to the delight of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button (McLaren). Mark Webber will finish 3rd, but the young German's authoritarian attempt serves as a warning.

Raging Bulls 😮#TurkishGP 🇹🇷 #F1 pic.twitter.com/uJ2O5jBFs1

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 5, 2021

Three years and three championship titles in his favor later, Sebastian Vettel continues to give his all to increase his mastery in F1, even if it means disobeying his team from the 2nd round of the season. As in Turkey three years earlier, Mark Webber leads the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix ahead of his teammate. In his last stint, the Australian preserves his car and his tires, reassured he thought by the instruction of “Multimap 21” indicated by the Red Bull wall, which ordered the maintenance of positions and the preservation of the double. Bad luck, Sebastian Vettel does as he pleases, victoriously attacks Webber 11 laps from the finish and signs the first of his 1 victories of the year. Disillusioned, Webber acts indignant and explains on mondovision that “en the end of the day Seb made his own decision and he will be protected as usual. It's like that »

“F*** off Charlie”

After having generously topped the Red Bull prize list, Sebastian Vettel is seduced by the unique opportunity to follow in the footsteps of his idol Michael Schumacher by joining Ferrari from 2015. If his first year at Maranello was mixed (3 victories), he greatly disappointed the following year with only 7 podiums and no success. The German will completely exceed the limits during the 2016 Mexican Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel then struggles with the fiery Max Verstappen (Red Bull) to gain 3rd place at the end of the race. The Dutchman defends his position so stubbornly that he crosses the track limits. Furious, Vettel asks his wall to demand that Verstappen give up his position. A request to which the race director, Charlie Whiting, did not grant, which had the gift of making the German come off his hinges: “ Here's my message to Charlie: fuck you. Honestly, fuck you. » The difference in language is such that it is Maurizio Arrivabene, team principal of the Scuderia, who is obliged to calm down his driver! Ultimately, neither Verstappen nor Vettel, both penalized, will reach the Mexican podium.

At the 2016 Mexican GP, ​​Max Verstappen frustrated Sebastian Vettel, who took out steam on Charlie Whiting / DPPI

Bumper cars in Baku

The following season, Sebastian Vettel starts the 2017 vintage with a bang. He won in Melbourne, Bahrain and Monaco and finished 2nd in Shanghai, Sochi and Barcelona, ​​the pace of a real contender for the world crown. At the Azerbaijan GP, ​​however, Vettel will again switch to the dark side of Formula 1. The Azerbaijani round being punctuated by incidents, Vettel finds himself behind Hamilton in close ranks behind the safety car. During this seemingly innocuous situation, Vettel was surprised by Hamilton braking and hit the rear of his car. Mercedes. Furious, Vettel approaches the Briton, whom he accuses of having hit him, and deliberately hits him with the steering wheel. The Ferrari driver will logically be sanctioned with a 10-second penalty for “Dangerous driving”, and the German pretends not to understand the sanction… Sebastian Vettel will then let himself be left behind by Lewis Hamilton in the fight for the title in the 2nd part of season.

The tears of Hockenheim

In 2018, Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari displayed great consistency and delivered an intense duel to Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton. The German is leading the Drivers' championship as his national Grand Prix looms, at Hockenheim, which he has only won once (in 2013). With 15 laps to go, Vettel is the leader on a track wet by the sudden arrival of light rain. The German does not take enough precautions and arrives too quickly in the Sachs curve. He slides from behind, crosses the gravel trap and ends up in the wall at low speed. Mad with rage, Vettel curses himself and pours out apologies drowned in sobs at his Ferrari wall. The height of his misfortune, Lewis Hamilton won and tilted the fight for the title in his favor. This is undoubtedly the turning point of the 2018 season.

Twilight at Ferrari

After having missed, twice, the opportunity to get involved in the fight for the world title, Sebastian Vettel is experiencing two very difficult last seasons with the Scuderia. During the 2019 season, the young Charles Leclerc appears much more comfortable than him at the wheel of the Ferrari, boosted it is true by a controversial engine, and the German accumulates mistakes. At the Italian GP, ​​on the team's grounds, he spun alone and collided Lance stroll (Racing Point) wanting to get back to the track as quickly as possible. But the real hitch of the season comes in Brazil. Overtaken by Alexander albon (3rd, Red Bull) then by Charles Leclerc (4th), the German places himself in his teammate's exhausts, goes to the outside and hits his teammate at the front right. Vettel also suffered a puncture in the affair and the two Ferrari drivers retired, with five laps to go… A few months later, Ferrari and Vettel failed to reach an agreement concerning the continuation of their collaboration beyond the 2020 season .