Sebastian Vettel Opens Up About Fear of Failure Under Enormous Ferrari Pressure

Sebastian Vettel revealed that he found himself facing a different kind of pressure during his six-year stint at Ferrari. Speaking in the documentary Being Sebastian Vettel, the four-time Formula 1 world champion opened up about how the immense pressure and fear of failure at the Scuderia affected him.

“Under that pressure and with those expectations, the fear of failure was simply enormous. What happens on Monday if the race doesn’t go well? Will I get a telling-off?” Vettel said in his documentary.

Vettel joined Ferrari in 2015 after establishing himself as one of the most successful drivers in F1 history. After winning four back-to-back world championships from 2010 to 2013 with Red Bull, the German arrived at Ferrari with the responsibility of bringing the team back to championship glory.

Being Sebastian Vettel is a four-part German documentary about Vettel’s life beyond racing, his early karting days, and his path to Formula 1, including his time at Ferrari. The series is streaming live on ARD Mediathek.

How Did Sebastian Vettel Perform at Ferrari

The 39-year-old had a topsy-turvy stint at the Scuderia. He raced for the Italian outfit from 2015 through 2020, securing 14 Grand Prix victories, 12 pole positions, and 55 podiums across 118 race entries.

Vettel enjoyed a couple of successful seasons with Ferrari, including finishing runner-up in the drivers’ championship in 2017 and 2018. He ultimately failed to secure the title with the team. He scored five wins each in 2017 and 2018.

Sebastian Vettel started his Ferrari stint in 2015 on a high note, winning in just his second start for the team in Malaysia. He followed it by winning two more races in Hungary and Singapore.

Vettel left Ferrari at the end of the 2020 season, after struggling with an uncompetitive SF1000 car that season. He spent the next two seasons with Aston Martin before retiring from the sport at the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix finale.

How Sebastian Vettel Landed His First Major F1 Opportunity

Vettel initially made his F1 debut with BMW Sauber at the 2007 United States Grand Prix, replacing the injured Robert Kubica. Despite making just one start for the team, he left his mark, scoring a point by securing P8 in the race.

His performance attracted attention within the Red Bull camp, with former motorsport adviser Helmut Marko recalling in the Vettel documentary how the team managed to secure the German’s services.

“Thank God the people at Sauber weren’t convinced of Vettel’s abilities, which meant we were able to get him,” Marko said. “And then it became clear that here was someone who not only had the speed, but was also technically capable and prepared to put in the hard work.”

Sebastian Vettel recalled the role Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz played in securing him a F1 seat with Toro Rosso.

“In the end, Dietrich Mateschitz put his foot down and said, ‘Let’s not spend too much time discussing this. Give the kid a chance. If it works out, great. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.’” Vettel said.

Sebastian Vettel joined Toro Rosso for the remainder of the 2007 season before becoming a full-time driver with the team in 2008.

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Written by

Yash Soni

Yash Soni is a Formula 1 writer with over four years of experience in digital sports journalism. He specializes in F1 news, race analysis, team updates, and paddock stories. With a strong focus on accuracy, research, and SEO-driven storytelling, he aims to deliver engaging and informative coverage that keeps motorsport fans up to date with the latest developments in Formula 1.

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