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Canada's Minister criticizes Vettel for protesting against oil extraction: "Hypocrisy

Alberta Energy Minister Sonya Savage took to Twitter to criticize Vettel for the driver's t-shirt against oil extraction in Canada

Canada's Minister criticizes Vettel for protesting against oil extraction: "Hypocrisy

The political positions and activism of Sebastian Vettel continue to arouse discomfort. This time, the Minister of Energy of the State of Alberta, Sonya Savage, went to Twitter this Saturday (17) to criticize the German.

The four-time world champion arrived in the paddock of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, in Montreal, wearing a t-shirt with the messages "Stop Mining Tar Sands".o messages "Stop Mining Tar Sands" and "Canada's Climate Crime," denouncing oil extraction in the Canadian state, and drew Savage's ire.

The minister took issue with Vettel's protest on the grounds that the main sponsor of Aston Martin, Seb's team, is the world's largest oil producer (Aramco). "I have seen a lot of hypocrisy over the years, but this one is too much: a racing driver sponsored by Aston Martin, with funding from Saudi Aramco, complaining about the oil sands," he said in the publication.

Sebastian Vettel protestou contra a extração de petróleo no Canadá (Foto: Reprodução/Twitter)
Sebastian Vettel protested against oil extraction in Canada (Photo: Reproduction/Twitter)

Savage followed in his criticism by talking about the position that Aston Martin's sponsor occupies in the global market. "Saudi Aramco has the highest daily oil production of any company in the world, and as a result, be the largest contributor to global carbon emissions, of any company, since 1965."

Finally, the energy minister directed her stand in defense of oil to Vettel, going so far as to ironize the importance of fuel in awakening a taste for car racing. "Instead of demonizing oil sands, which are on their way to net zero, people could try to reduce their personal carbon footprint. Maybe a pedal car for Formula One?"

Seb's History of Protests

This is not the first time Vettel has drawn attention to climate-related issues. Before the Miami GP, in May, the German arrived at the paddock wearing a t-shirt that read "Miami 2060 - 1st Grand Prix Underwater - Act Now or Swin Later", in allusion to the sea level rise that threatens to submerge the North American city.

Sebastian was one of the guests, a few days later, on the BBC's "Question Time" program, where he admitted to being a hypocrite by doing activism on climate issues while racing Formula One.

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