I Have A Lot Of Feelings About Seb, And Especially A Lot Of Feelings About How He Was So Trash Talked,

I have a lot of feelings about Seb, and especially a lot of feelings about how he was so trash talked, and how his accomplishments have so often been brushed off as luck (as if you could win 4 titles through luck) that he retired believing that.

How people say he got booed and laughed it off, but he then said it was hard on him week after week after week.

How Ferrari used him as a scapegoat for their shortcomings, how we saw his huge smile fade away there, and he still sung them goodbye and thanked them for letting him be a part of their team.

How he said he'd be forgotten quickly, but then lists "Don't You (Forget About Me)" as his favorite song.

How he said it was fine that he would be forgotten soon, but took the time to learn and memorize the name of every f1 champion, because he valued their memory that much.

How he texts the driver who is erasing his records to encourage him to break another one, and has the cameras record that driver saying he doesn't really think about that when he equals it.

There is so much humor and silliness and attitude with Seb's career, and there is also so much heartbreak. And it often seems that the joys come first, and the pains come later and leave their taste lingering.

So it's happy that he retired. That takes a lot of bravery too, to say "I think this is enough" when it's all you've known in life. And to focus on what ultimately matters most, which is giving back to his family and loved ones.

Give it ten more years, and I think we will still remember him, but with a clearer image of how GOOD he was.