Vettel: "Need time for myself" after "pretty exhausting year"

After the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel admitted he needed some time for himself during the winter after what he dubbed "a pretty exhausting year" in Formula 1.

The German started the year as if it was 2011, as he drove his car to victory in back-to-back races while doing an incredible job driving his Ferrari. He got pole positions, and if he wasn't winning he was putting pressure on the race leader and ending on podium places.

That all fell apart after Belgium, the last race he won. The first blow came in Monza, where Ferrari were the ultimate favourites but still lost to Lewis Hamilton, who somehow squeezed past both prancing horses to steal it in their own back garden.

The Brit went on an incredible winning streak after that, overtaking Vettel in the championship and never looking back. Vettel grew more and more desperate and started to make mistakes, only making things worse for himself.

Now that the season is over and the battle has been lost, Vettel knows that he needs some time off to unwind from it all.

READ: Vettel vows to "come back stronger" in 2019

"I think I need some time for myself," he said at the post-race press conference.

"It's been a pretty exhausting and busy year for me."

He'll still be on duty in a few days' time for testing in Abu Dhabi, though.

Still, over 100 days to go until we go again in Melbourne, plenty of time to figure it all out!