He added: 'I feel we live in very decisive times and how we all shape these next years will determine our lives. 'Committing to my passion no longer goes side by side with my wish to be a great father and a husband.' 'I believe in change and progress and that every little bit makes a difference. Being a racing driver has never been my sole identity. In a video on his website external-link on Thursday, he said: 'I love this sport but as much as there is life on track there is my life off track, too. Vettel has always eschewed social media, but he launched an Instagram account on Thursday just before his retirement announcement, with his biography there describing him as 'public figure'. In recent years he has become an outspoken campaigner on social and environmental issues.

'I hope that the work I did last year and am continuing to do this year will be helpful in the development of a team that will win in the future, and I will work as hard as I can between now and the end of the year with that goal in mind, giving as always my best in the last 10 races.'Īston Martin had wanted to keep Vettel next season, but he decided he wanted to step away from the sport. Vettel, who won four consecutive drivers' titles with Red Bull from 2010 to 2013, said he had 'really enjoyed' his time with Aston Martin in 20, adding: 'Although our results have not been as good as we had hoped, it is very clear to me that everything is being put together that a team needs to race at the very highest level for years to come.

Hamilton & Alonso lead tributes to 'legend' Vettel.

Rather, it is about saying thank you - to everyone - not least to the fans, without whose passionate support F1 could not exist.' He added: 'Today is not about saying goodbye. Only Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio have won more world titles than Vettel, and only Hamilton and Schumacher have more than his 53 race wins. Vettel will leave the sport as one of the most successful drivers in history. He said spending more time with his family was a priority. The German said he would 'take more time to reflect on what I will focus on next' at the end of the year.

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