Four times F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel launched the “Buzzin Corner” initiative last Thursday in Suzuka, Japan, during the weekend of the Formula 1 Grand Prix. Buzzin Corner aims to raise awareness of biodiversity issues by providing tiny wooden homes for bees at race tracks. In Suzuka, those were placed inside Turn Two.
At the event, the former F1 driver was joined by all the current drivers and many team principals. They all decorated the bee homes according to their taste and style. Furthermore, the kerb at turn two on the race track has been repainted with black and yellow, replacing the usual red and white to reflect the idea of this initiative.
Why’s everyone buzzing in Suzuka? 🐝 Sebastian Vettel explains it all!#JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/4zpDgXmyAP
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) September 21, 2023
During his last F1 seasons, Sebastian Vettel was a strong advocate for sustainability. He was never afraid to express his opinions and share his thoughts about climate change or other issues.
At the Miami Grand Prix in 2022, Vettel showed up with a shirt, reminding everyone that the city might go underwater if global warming doesn’t stop. During the first Saudi Arabia Grand Prix in 2021, he invited local women to join him on a go-kart race track and go racing for the first time. At that time, women had only been allowed to drive in the country for a few months.
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During his speech, explaining the decision to retire from Formula 1 in 2022, Sebastian Vettel explained very clearly that he felt that his priority had shifted and the issue of sustainability had become one of his focuses moving forward.
Joining other German athletes like former F1 driver, Nico Rosberg, or football player Mario Gotze, Sebastian Vettel has begun to put all his efforts into sustainable projects. “Race without a Trace”, an initiative producing and promoting sustainable fuel for racing cars was one the first. He, also invested in BACX, a startup launching a – plant-based – performance energy drink. He also promoted biodiversity and gender equality in other events similar to Buzzin Corner.
We just had to. 😉🐝 George is buzzing to be back in Japan. pic.twitter.com/77xqmuEaNc
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) September 22, 2023
Since Vettel’s retirement, rumors have begun about him potentially joining other “sustainable “racing series like Formula E. The four-time F1 world champion repeatedly denied these rumors.
He actually preferred to jump on a sailboat from the Sail GP Series and joined Team Germany during a team practice. And while sailing boats might not be anywhere near F1 speed, the technology involved is similar.
Only Sebastian Vettel knows what he will do in the future. However, whether he will go racing on cars again, jump on other sailboats, or he will just keep building bee homes, we know that sustainability will always be his number one priority.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of Impakter.com — Featured Photo Credit: F1 via Twitter.