Abu Dhabi GP – With all the drivers: Lewis Hamilton organizes a farewell dinner for Sebastian Vettel

Alex Wurz, former Formula 1 driver and current President of the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GDPA), wrote on Twitter: “Thank you to the Lewis Hamilton Organization and thanks to all the GPDA members who have come together to celebrate the greatest, to one of our principals and to our sport, which Sebastian Vettel loves so much.”

Vettel has been director of the Formula 1 Drivers’ Association since 2010, making him the only active driver on the body besides George Russell. Hamilton’s stable Mercedes rival also wrote on Instagram: “A fantastic evening with the other guys to celebrate Sebastian’s last race.”

Hamilton himself posed for a photo op with Vettel and addressed the Aston Martin driver, saying: “We’ve come a long way as drivers and we’re growing as people. Despite what happens on the racetrack, we’re growing and every day we’re getting better.”

Throughout his career in the premier motorsport category, Vettel has shared the track with Hamilton and has fought several title battles with the record world champion. In 2017, the two world championship rivals clashed in Baku when Vettel (then in a Ferrari) deliberately drove Hamilton into the car during a safety car period.

Friendship grows after the deepest moment

An event that brought the competitors closer together. “I think Baku wasn’t a strong moment for me, but I think from that moment on…” Vettel introduced at the press conference, to which Hamilton completed “our friendship has improved”.

“So I don’t want to miss this moment, if you know what I mean by that,” added Vettel. The fact that Hamilton is now organizing a dinner for his longtime rival shows mutual appreciation.

Alonso: “There will always be contact”

“I think my career will be linked to Sebastian in some way because we’ve fought a lot in probably the best seasons of our lives. Even if the result is on his side, there will always be that connection,” explained the 41-year-old Spaniard as he lapped him.