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Ex-piloto de Fórmula 1 Sebastian Vettel viajou ao Brasil para acompanhar o GP de Interlagos, mas antes sobrevoou a Amazônia e se encontrou c
DW Interview with Sebastian Vettel [2024-10-30]
English Translation ↴
[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?]
How indigenous peoples live with the land, not just on the land. I have the feeling that sometimes we live on the land and not with the land. So I think that's a great inspiration.
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