Source: Ferrari Media

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Vettel admits to big self-doubt at start of F1-career

Vettel admits to big self-doubt at start of F1-career

20-09-2018 18:44
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Nicolás Quarles van Ufford

Sebastian Vettel might be a four-time Formula One champion, but the German certainly wasn't the confident, quirky man that he is today, as he reveals that he had great self-doubt at the start of his career.

Vettel was part of the Red Bull programme ever since the start of the century, winning 18 out of 20 races in Formula BMW in 2004. Gaining promotion to Formula 3 the year after, he couldn't win a single race. 

"It took a long time for me to believe I would have a good career in motorsport," Vettel told Formula1.com.

Since he was part of the Red Bull 'family', Vettel didn't have to worry about money, but there was pressure to perform.

With the Bulls' youth programme being full of eager youngsters who want to make it to Formula One, Vettel knew he had to stand out to stand a chance, causing him to switch teams from Mücke Motorsport to ART Grand Prix.

He looked set to win the title, grabbing two wins at Nürburgring, but missed out in the last race of the year, as Paul Di Resta snatched the title. 

"You just focus on what you are doing at the time - every single step," Vettel says as he's looking back on those days.

"But even when I reached Formula One, I was not convinced.

"After a couple of race wins, I realized that I've got a career now, before I never dared to do what I do to be a career."