#quotes24

[How would you describe what you saw flying over the forest? And what was the purpose of this flight?]

It wasn't just a flight. Over the last two days, I visited the Amazon and the indigenous people in the heart of the forest. I had never been to the Amazon before, so it was very much a first for me. I've always read about the rainforest, the people who live in it and their spirits. Now, I really had the chance to meet, get to know and talk to them. The flight was very impressive. At first you see a lot of forest, a lot of trees, on the horizon.

But it's also very worrying, because there are a lot of soy farms, a lot of land that looks like it's already been moved and taken out of the forest. You can see where there's a clear cut between the forest and the farms, either for livestock or for soy. On today's flight, we could also see the gold mining that is destroying the forest. So, as much as it was an inspiration, it was also a shock. There were very positive things, meeting the people, spending time with them, but also negative things, in terms of seeing how humans are changing the landscape, and not for the better.

[Was this something you expected to see or did you think it would be something different?]

Yes. Obviously I prepared myself a bit, I took a look at what to expect. But it's still shocking when, on the one hand, you see trees on the horizon and lush greenery. And then you see how the colors change and how the landscape has been altered by humans, bulldozers and machines. As well as the contamination of the land, with elements that are polluting the waters and also people and animals. I could have imagined it, but yes, it's a surprise when you see it. It's much more impactful to see than just to read about.

[And you said that you had already researched this before. What exactly sparks your interest in the Amazon rainforest and indigenous peoples now?]

Well, I have a general interest in the environment. I grew up in a very privileged region in Germany, where you get free education and can choose to become whatever you want, where doors are open no matter which direction you're looking in. And I come from a very different background with racing.

But one thing that racing has allowed me, and I think it's a privilege, is to travel the world, meet different people, get an insight into different cultures. And that teaches you a lot of lessons, as long as you're attentive. I think that's the biggest challenge of our lives, and probably the biggest challenge that human beings have ever faced, to ensure that we have a future and a future that allows and enables the next generations to enjoy as much as we do. I think that's fair. So I'm willing to use my platform, my voice, to make a positive impact and raise awareness. And that's also the purpose of the trip.

[You've talked about racing and, in other interviews, you've touched on what Formula 1 could do and what other drivers could do more for the environment. How can these two realities fit together?]

There are many subjects that, at first glance, don't fit together. But I think that's exactly the challenge we're facing. There are so many things that don't fit together and we have to find a solution between them. Racing is my passion, and I'd love it to exist in the future too. But for that to happen, they need to change, they need to adapt. In that sense, perhaps they are a good example of how this can be done.

[And what do you think developed countries like Germany can do to help protect forests and the traditional populations that live in them?]

That's a difficult question, but I think raising awareness and helping other countries, whatever they are, to move in the right direction. Germany has a lot of homework to do. All countries have a lot of homework to do. But I think this is also a problem that we won't solve just by looking at our own problems, within our own countries. It's something we have to look at globally.

First, we need to listen to the real experts, who are the people who have lived inside the forests for thousands of years. They have established a way of life according to how the forest needs to be in order to have a future. So it's only fair to protect their land and stop deforestation, as well as return some of the land that has been taken from them illegally. And how can countries, especially rich ones, help? We need to find a way to really appreciate the value of the forest and also monetize that value in order to be able to protect it. Because protecting it is expensive, and the short-term interest of private companies has obviously led to land exploitation. Even if you never travel to Brazil, you will be harmed if the Amazon disappears.

[Do you think that people in Germany or in other countries are aware of the importance of the Amazon rainforest for the whole environment and the planet?]

No, and I don't think you can expect every individual, you know, to become aware and take action. Politics and governance need to come into play and the world's leaders need to get together and come up with public policies and solutions. I'm not saying it's easy, but I'm also saying it's possible. It's been done before and it can be done again.

On a global level, there is also reason for hope. So, as devastating as land grabbing is and looks when you fly over and see it, it's also true that, globally, there are many projects, many people who are working hard and making sure that we're moving in the right direction. We just need to do it much faster. That's where I believe raising awareness helps, because if people are asking for the right things, they will drive policies in the right direction.

[You posted photos on Instagram with indigenous leaders Raoni Metuktire and Megaron Txucarramãe. What was it like meeting them? What are the most important things you learned from them and from the other Kayapó indigenous people you met?]

The fact that our two worlds don't collide, but meet. I think I was impressed by how tolerant and open they were with me and with people from outside the forest. For our part, we need to act in the same way. We don't expect them or the communities inside the forest or the indigenous peoples to live in the same way as us. They have their own fair way of living and existing. There are so many things we need and should learn from them, instead of taking away their land, the basis of their very existence.

[How would you summarize this experience in one sentence?]

Can you imagine a four-time Formula 1 champion collecting recyclable materials on the streets of São Paulo? That's what happened this Thursday in Jurubatuba, a neighborhood in the South Zone of the São Paulo capital. Engaged in the fight for sustainability and the preservation of the environment, Sebastian Vettel took part in a challenge with garbage collectors in collaboration with the non-governmental organization Pimp my Carroça.

In the presence of Vettel fans, journalists and Ayrton Senna's family, represented by his nieces Bianca and Lalalli Senna, the participants were divided into four teams. The aim of the action was to give visibility to the work done by waste pickers, who number around 1 million workers throughout Brazil and more than 20 million worldwide. They are responsible for handling 90% of everything that is recycled in the country. For two hours, they lived the routine of the waste pickers on the streets of São Paulo. Vettel's team even had to deal with drivers who were impatient with the carts in the traffic of São Paulo. A shock of reality.

"We also tackled social problems. People pick up recyclable materials on the streets to try to earn an income. So the environment and social issues have a strong connection. I wanted to shine a light on this issue and try to raise people's awareness. You've seen what we've done. You're going to talk about it. It's a way of inspiring people. We're all inspired every day by different things. And once you know something, you start asking questions. Maybe one day it will be on the desk of someone important to change situations and improve the situation for the people who are picking up garbage and cleaning the streets every day."

One of the results of this action was the construction of a giant replica of Ayrton Senna's helmet out of recyclable materials with artists Matthias Garff and Thiago Mundano. The piece was taken to the José Carlos Pace race track in Interlagos, where it will be on display throughout the weekend of the São Paulo GP. Vettel and several drivers even took part in the presentation of the artwork on Thursday, at Senna's S.

"We had the idea of building a helmet in Ayrton's colors. The helmet is the driver's identity and his is very iconic, with the colors of Brazil. So, together with some artists, we created a sculpture out of recyclable materials in which you can enter and feel like you're inside his helmet. You can walk around it and take a little trip back in time. Look from inside it to the streets, to the track. Ayrton Senna represented excellence on the track, but also the courage to speak out, to have compassion, to care for other people who aren't privileged. And the messages he passed on were very powerful. I was able to drive his car at the event in Imola, which was very moving. We thought about doing something in his home country too, to keep his legacy alive. For positive change, positive transition."

In May, Vettel took part in an emotional tribute to Ayrton Senna at the Emilia-Romagna GP in Imola. He drove the McLaren-Ford MP4/8 that the three-time champion used in the 1993 season on Sunday morning, a few hours before the race.

"As a driver, Ayrton Senna was very successful and had a unique style. He was also very charismatic, very strong-minded. He is still very much alive in everyone who is racing. Especially for Brazil, he means even more. His early death was a great loss, but 30 years later, he's still very much alive. It's important to maintain that. He was an example to many people, a national hero and you know, someone who really had an influence. And it's great if that can be used for positive change. In the end, we want to make sure that the lives of our children and the next generation are better than ours."

This week, before arriving in São Paulo for the Formula 1 Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel visited Cuiabá and the Amazon. In the forest, in a Greenpeace action, he met Cacique Raoni Metuktire, leader of the Caiapó people or Mebêngôkre, as they call themselves.