#F1 legend Sebastian Vettel invests in new German SailGP team

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F1 legend Sebastian Vettel invests in new German SailGP team

F1 legend Sebastian Vettel invests in new German SailGP team ahead of globe-trotting event's fourth season with quadruple world champion planning to take a hands-on role Vettel, 35, retired from Formula One racing at the end of the 2022 season He has invested in a new Germany SailGP boat skippered by Erik Heil By Adam Shergold for MailOnline Published: 12:58 EDT, 31 May 2023 | Updated: 12:58 EDT, 31 May 2023 Formula One legend Sebastian Vettel has invested in the new Germany SailGP team in his first sporting move following retirement from racing. The four-time world champion, 35, has partnered with double Olympic sailing bronze medallist Erik Heil and team owner Thomas Riedel in the sport often described as 'F1 on water.' Vettel and Riedel will both put money in to the German team, with Heil, who was on the podium at both the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, set to drive the 100km/h F50 hydrofoiling catamaran. The German boat takes the SailGP field to 10 ahead of the opening event of its fourth season in Chicago on June 16. Vettel said: 'I see a lot of potential as SailGP starts its fourth season and for the first time with a German team. Parallels between sailors and Formula One have long existed. Formula One legend Sebastian Vettel (left) and with skipper Erik Heil at the launch of the new SailGP team he has invested in SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts (left) hands over the wheel of the German boat to (second left to right) Erik Heil (Driver), Sebastian Vettel (Co-owner) and Thomas Riedel (Team owner) Germany will be the latest addition to the SailGP fleet ahead of the event's fourth season 'The boats are fascinating and the speeds on the water are incredibly high. The races are exciting and I am happy to be close to them with a motivated group of young sailors. 'In addition, the series not only uses wind power, but also strives to set new standards in sustainability in sports.' Vettel won four consecutive Formula One drivers' championships with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013, before pushing Lewis Hamilton close with Ferrari in 2017 and 2018. He spent the final two seasons of his F1 career with Aston Martin before announcing his retirement in July 2022. Vettel plans to take a hands-on role in the management of the German SailGP team, which was officially welcomed to the event by CEO Sir Russell Coutts at an event in Dusseldorf on Wednesday. The strongest challengers in the 2023-24 season will be three-time SailGP champions Australia skippered by Tom Slingsby, the New Zealand boat led by Pete Burling and Sir Ben Ainslie's British team. Vettel won four consecutive Formula One world titles with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013 Vettel, 35, waved goodbye to Formula One with Aston Martin at the end of the 2022 season  The sustainability aspect of SailGP would have been a big draw for Vettel with all the teams competing in an Impact League which ranks them on being the most environmentally conscious. Vettel regularly wore custom t-shirts and helmets to promote environmental causes during his F1 days. He caught up with Lewis Hamilton at last weekend's Monaco Grand Prix with the Mercedes driver posting an Instagram picture of them sharing a hug. Share or comment on this article: F1 legend Sebastian Vettel invests in new German SailGP team via Formula One | Mail Online https://www.dailymail.co.uk?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490