Sebastian Vettel is an “environmental knight”: the special award from a school in Gothenburg
Following his retirement from racing, Sebastian Vettel has fully committed himself to protecting the planet. And now, the former Formula 1 world champion has received a small but meaningful honor in Sweden, recognizing his dedication to environmental causes.
Sebastian Vettel and the “race to win”
“There is still a race to win,” Sebastian Vettel said in the video in which he announced his retirement from Formula 1. Since that moment, although there have certainly been occasions when the four-time world champion appeared close to making a return to competitive racing — he even went as far as testing a Porsche 963 with a view to the 24 Hours of Le Mans — it is equally clear that he has remained fully committed to the parallel race he was referring to: the fight to protect the environment.
Since stepping away from Grand Prix racing at the end of the 2022 Formula 1 season, the 38-year-old German has placed strong emphasis on initiatives aimed at promoting a more sustainable and environmentally conscious form of motorsport. His efforts have included demonstration runs with historic Formula 1 cars once driven by Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell, powered by sustainable fuels, as well as the installation of the “bee corner” at Suzuka during the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix. In addition, Vettel has been actively raising awareness about the importance of forests, most notably during the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix.
The “environmental knight” award
This constant and tireless commitment has now earned him the title of “environmental knight.” In reality, this is a newly created honor, conceived by teacher Catherine Nestenborg, who, together with the leadership of the Samskolan school in Gothenburg, invited Sebastian Vettel to speak in front of an audience of around 150 children. The event focused entirely on practical approaches and ideas for protecting the planet.
According to Swedish newspaper Expressen, the former Red Bull, Ferrari, and Aston Martin driver attended the ceremony on Tuesday to receive this unique recognition. As he entered the classroom, the melody of “Circle of Life,” the famous song by Elton John — also known in its Italian version performed by Ivana Spagna — played in the background, adding a symbolic touch to the occasion.
“Thank you very much,” the former driver said during the official ceremony, which even featured a ceremonial sword placed on his head and shoulder. “Now I really feel at home in this school. And thank you for welcoming me today and for showing me what you do. I have three children at home and we dedicate a lot of time to environmental activities, so I take a lot of inspiration with me. I am very inspired by what you do and by how aware you all are of the needs of our planet.”
“When I meet children, I often notice that you fully understand what is happening. It is actually us adults who sometimes need to change our attitude and listen to you more,” Sebastian Vettel concluded.
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