Sebastian Vettel: Lewis Hamilton & Fernando Alonso say retiring champion is a 'legend' of F1

Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso paid homage to Sebastian Vettel after he retired.

The four-time champion said on Thursday that he would leave F1 at the end of the season.

Both Hamilton and Alonso said he was a legend of our sport.

The climate crisis was one of the areas in which Hamilton praised Vettel.

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Hamilton was sad to hear that he was leaving. I feel very proud to have been here when he was and I think he is one of the most impactful F1 drivers.

I think I'm up there with him in terms of what we can do with our platform.

I'm really proud of him because he's a great voice.

It was an honor to call him a competitor and an even greater honor to call him my friend, said the seven-time champion.

It's always the goal to leave this sport better than it was. Whatever comes next for you will be rewarding. Man, I love you.

Four titles and a legend as a driver, as well as a human being, is what Fernando Alonso said after losing out in two close title battles with SebastianVettel.

He has a very correct way of thinking. He will be missed by us. The battles will be missed.

Both of us were very close to Lewis. One of the three is missing. I wish him the best and a lot of happiness, because family and other things are likely in this decision.

He made it clear that his concern for the environment and his desire to spend time with his family were at the forefront of his decision.

"Unfortunately, I wish it wasn't like that, but the climate crisis is part of all our futures."

Nobody can escape from it. It will face us all, we have to face it. It's one of the larger aspects that led to the decision, the changing world and there are aspects of the job today that don't feel right.

You can't un- see the whole picture once you see it. It's the biggest challenge we have to face.

Drivers up and down the grid agreed with Hamilton and Alonso's comments.

Max Verstappen said that he is a good ambassador for the sport. He worked hard to get that.

He's an ambassador for the sport and a great role model for the younger generation.

He's loved by everyone in the paddock. This speaks to his personality and his life as a human being as no one will speak bad about him.

We will miss him, but I hope we will see him again helping in some of the areas he has been very vocal about recently.