Formula One: Why does Sebastian Vettel still not have any social media accounts?

Here we are in October of 2017. Why does four-time Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel still have no social media accounts?

We are coming to the end of yet another Formula One season, and while it appears as though Lewis Hamilton is poised to win his fourth career championship, Sebastian Vettel is still not out of the picture 59 points behind him with four races remaining in the United States, Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi.

The differences between the two chief title competitors off the track, however, could not be more noticeable. 32-year-old Lewis Hamilton is all about engaging his fans off the track through his various social media accounts, which he posts to very often, while 30-year-old Sebastian Vettel has absolutely no social media accounts at all and only ever engages fans in person.

As far as Hamilton goes, that is understandable; many athletes are like this. But as far as Vettel goes, why is that? It is certainly understandable, but it is certainly rare that a high-profile athlete like himself as a four-time champion is not on social media at all.

In June earlier this year, Vettel explained why he is still not on social media in any way, shape or form.

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"“I just don’t understand why you have to constantly tell everyone what you are doing, where you are, who you are with. I simply don’t have this need, but at the same time I don’t blame people if they are constantly talking about themselves. I think I grew up in a generation that was quite shy of having pictures taken or seeing themselves.”“People come and say ‘Can we take a picture’ and suddenly they are gone again. I sometimes ask what they will do with it, and often the answer is ‘No idea’. The other day someone said they needed a photo to prove to his friends that he actually met me. So I said ‘You must not be a reliable friend if they don’t believe you!’ I have to admit I get a lot more out of shaking someone’s hand and then sharing the experience of meeting someone.”"

Vettel’s approach is not uncommon, but for people his age, it definitely is. At 30 years of age, he is a member of the millennial generation, the generation that seemingly flocks to social media every chance they get. That could not be better exemplified than by Hamilton’s approach, which, as referenced above, is the polar opposite of Vettel’s approach.

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Vettel signed a three-year, $240 million contract with Ferrari before the 2015 season and just signed a three-year extension to remain with the team through 2020. Put an average millennial in his position and you’d see their social media accounts explode with activity. But Vettel simply likes to keep to himself and doesn’t need to gloat about the high points of his life every chance he gets, which is commendable. Don’t expect that to change anytime soon, either.

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