Sebastian Vettel once again stole the spotlight at Monza, not for his on-track exploits but for his vision of Formula 1's future. The four-time world champion spoke after driving Michael Schumacher's title-winning 2002 Ferrari F2002, a screaming V10 machine, at the Italian Grand Prix.
As a prominent environmentalist, Vettel has often found himself in a tricky position: loving the gas-guzzling old-school racing while also caring about sustainability. But he insists the two don't have to clash. Technological advances, he argues, open the door to combining excitement with ecological responsibility.
Excitement and Responsibility Can Coexist
“I think it is exciting,” Vettel said. “There’s so much more to unpack when you look at Formula 1. Of course, from a driver’s point of view I want to drive the best car and I want to win races. But then what is the best car? The car of 2002 has been the state of the art car at that time and represents so much for what Formula 1 stands for.”
He added that today's cars serve a similar purpose, but with an emphasis on performance, precision, discipline, hard work, and responsibility for the future. “I’m probably not agreeing on everything that we currently have in the regulations from a driving point of view, but looking forward I think that’s where there’s a huge chance to take people on board,” he continued.
Vettel stressed that one does not have to exclude the other. “We need to find practices with everything so we are able to combine things that we love.”
Sustainable Fuels as the Way Forward
Furthermore, Vettel highlighted sustainable fuels as a future solution, not just for F1 but for other racing series as well. “I think sustainable fuels are the step forward,” he said. “There’s huge potential not just for Formula 1 but also to inspire other racing series.”
He also touched on the responsibility of developing the next generation of cars. “If you shape the next generation of car, there’s a lot of potential to do so responsibly because some things that may be incredible from a technology point of view might not be transferable to the streets. I think there’s also a responsibility to do that.”
Vettel is eagerly anticipating F1's future. “I look forward to what the future brings, because I think F1 has so many nice values that shaped me and inspired me in my life and touches a lot of people around the world. It has that power to do so on many other things that are meaningful and impactful.”
Vettel's perspective serves as a bridge between F1's adrenaline-fueled golden era and a new age that demands environmental awareness. Amid the heated debate over the 2026 regulations, the voice of a world champion like Vettel certainly carries weight.
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