Michael Schumacher spoke glowingly of Sebastian Vettel just days before his horror ski accident back in 2013.
Schumacher is regarded as the greatest F1 driver of all time, catapulting the sport to new heights en route to his seven world title wins.
And the F1 legend had a great relationship with fellow German Vettel when he returned to racing for his second stint.
Schumacher would eventually call time on the sport in 2012 right in the middle of Vettel's reign of dominance as the German won four world titles on the trot between 2010 and 2013.
And Vettel announced on Thursday that this year will be his final season racing in Formula One before retiring from the sport.
He said in a statement: "I have had the privilege of working with many fantastic people in Formula 1 over the past 15 years – there are far too many to mention and thank.
"Over the past two years I have been an Aston Martin driver – and, although our results have not been as good as we had hoped, it is very clear to me that everything is being put together that a team needs to race at the very highest level for years to come.
"I have really enjoyed working with such a great bunch of people. Everyone – Lawrence, Lance, Martin, Mike, the senior managers, the engineers, the mechanics and the rest of the team – is ambitious, capable, expert, committed and friendly, and I wish them all well.
"I hope that the work I did last year and am continuing to do this year will be helpful in the development of a team that will win in the future, and I will work as hard as I can between now and the end of the year with that goal in mind, giving as always my best in the last 10 races.
"The decision to retire has been a difficult one for me to take, and I have spent a lot of time thinking about it. At the end of the year I want to take some more time to reflect on what I will focus on next – it is very clear to me that, being a father, I want to spend more time with my family.
"But today is not about saying goodbye. Rather, it is about saying thank you – to everyone – not least to the fans, without whose passionate support Formula 1 could not exist."
And back in 2013 just weeks before Schumacher's horror skiing accident that has led to the world famous figure withdrawing from the public eye, he praised his friend.
Vettel finished the 2013 season with a whopping 397 points, a tally that alone would have scooped the Constructors Championship.
And Schumacher said of his friend: "Great job, very consistent. Look at his team-mate, that's your reference point that you've got to take. He won all those races, 13 this year, Mark Webber won none in the end. That's pretty shocking - I'm glad I'm not his team-mate!"
Vettel retires from the sport after debuting back in 2007 with his run from 2010 to 2013 among the most remarkable in F1 history.
The German is currently 35-years-old and his last win came back in 2019.
He had been in contract negotiations to remain with Aston Martin beyond this year. Team principal Mike Krack had been saying he was confident a deal would be reached, but must now seek a replacement for the German.
"Sebastian is a superb driver – fast, intelligent and strategic – and of course we are going to miss those qualities," said the Luxembourger. "However, we have all learned from him, and the knowledge that we have gained from working with him will continue to benefit our team long after his departure.
"Aston Martin is a great project, with unlimited potential, and the groundwork that Sebastian has done last year, and is still doing this year, is crucial. When we become fully competitive – and we will – one of the architects of that future success will be Sebastian, and we will always be grateful to him for that."
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