The four-time Formula 1 world champion surprised the social network Instagram with a declaration of love to his wife Hanna Prater.
Vettel, who otherwise keeps his relationship strictly out of the public eye, shared pictures of himself and Prater from a young age with his 2.7 million followers.
“I won the most important race. It was the race to the heart of the love of my life, Hanna. I love you,” wrote the 35-year-old.
Numerous fans reacted benevolently to the emotional statement. “The greatest couple ever,” wrote one user. “I wish I could experience a love story like these two,” commented another follower.
Vettel and Prater have been a couple for 17 years, but have known each other since they went to school together in their hometown of Heppenheim. They live in Switzerland with their three children. In 2019, the media reported that they had said yes.
Sebastian Vettel does not rule out a Formula 1 comeback
Public appearances by Prater, who works in the fashion industry, are rare – as are Vettel’s statements about his private life.
In 2017, in an interview with the magazine of the world football association FIFA, he revealed that he and Prater had met in the 2006 World Cup match between Japan and Brazil (1: 4). “The visit to the Dortmund stadium was something of a key moment in my life,” enthused the former Formula 1 driver at the time.
Vettel ended his career in the premier class of motorsport after last season. Across from RTL/ntv and sport.de he recently ruled out a comeback but not categorically.
“It’s also possible that in six months I’ll go crazy, can’t stand it on the couch and want to drive again,” said the 53-time Grand Prix winner. In general, “everything is conceivable at the moment”.
Helmut Marko had recently let it be known that he could well imagine his former protégé in a role at Red Bull.