Rosberg calls Vettel’s climate crusade “authentic.”
According to fellow Formula One world champion and German Nico Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel’s environmental crusade is “commendable.”
Winner of four championships Vettel has been called a hypocrite for advocating so forcefully for action on climate change and other environmental issues while racing in fuel-guzzling F1.
Indeed, after recently speaking out against the “climate crime” of “mining tar sands” in Canada, Alberta energy minister Sonya Savage pointed out Vettel’s hypocrisy as an F1 driver “with financing from Saudi Aramco.”
And it has now been revealed that Saudi Arabia is increasing its influence at Vettel’s F1 employer, Aston Martin.
According to the Financial Times, the Lawrence Stroll-owned British carmaker will profit $775 million by selling 16.7 percent to Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.
Stroll stated that the agreement is to “deal with the God-damned debt.”
Despite the charges of hypocrisy, Vettel, according to 2016 world champion Rosberg, is still able to speak out about environmental issues.
“I would have expected that it would be impossible to convey his messages to people with credibility,” the retired Mercedes driver told Eurosport.
“But Sebastian does it with the deepest conviction and I think that’s very nice.”
Of course, Rosberg acknowledged the apparent hypocrisy of Vettel’s situation.
“Racing involves a conflict,” he said. “On the one hand, he is emotionally bound in the fight to support the environment with many actions.
“On the other, he himself contributes to climate change with his travelling and the burning of fuel. And he would like to pursue this passion for a few more years.
“But I still think it is commendable that he is so committed in this area, and it comes across as authentic,” Rosberg added.
“Giving up your greatest passion would be asking a lot of him. But if he is committed to the fight against climate change and keeps going at the same time, for me that’s fine.”