F1 facing "big questions" to ensure it is "still around in years to come" - Vettel

Sebastian Vettel has made it clear Formula 1 faces a 'difficult future' unless it becomes a leading light for sustainability.

Last November, F1 announced plans to become carbon neutral by 2030 and to make all events "sustainable" by 2025.

Vettel, though, recently expressed his concerns for the sport, insisting it must do more to adapt to the modern world in order to still be considered relevant at the start of the next decade.

Expanding on the topic ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix, the four-time F1 champion said: "Formula 1 is one of the sports that happen around the world.

"Obviously, there are world championships in many different sports but Formula 1 is held around the globe every year and in many different countries.

"I think, as a global sport, we should act responsibly and I think Formula 1 should set the examples rather than reacting to the pressure from the outside.

"So when it comes to the environment, obviously, we are driving around on the weekend in cars and burning fuel, which is probably a very small amount of the total energy or the total carbon footprint if you want to talk in CO2 terms.

"But we still need to start acting more and setting the right example, not just with our carbon footprint but also other things."

Pointing to the number of plastic bottles that go to waste across a weekend as an easy fix, Vettel suggested F1 should stop being "cheap" and taking the easy route.

The Ferrari driver added: "How we power, maybe some panels, there are solutions to that. I think we should be at the forefront of pushing developments rather than using what is there, convenient and cheap in order to make things work and easy.

"It is the pinnacle of motorsport when it comes to developing the cars but it shouldn't stop there and when you talk about the cars, there is more that can be done in order to have greater relevance for the future."

Sympathetic to the current global problems, Vettel added: "Obviously, the situation with the pandemic around the world doesn't help.

"Nevertheless, I think there are some big questions to be answered for the future to make sure this sport is still around in years to come.

"I think, where the world is going, there are big things that we need to tackle and we need to address and Formula 1 is maybe not at the forefront of this.

"Obviously, it is a sport and it is entertainment but still I think we can do better than what we are currently doing, looking after the world, the environment.

"I think there are some interesting aspects that we are trying to fulfil or achieve but I think Formula 1 has to do more and be a bit more open and tolerant otherwise I think, this is just my personal opinion, it could get difficult in the future."

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