Sebastian Vettel finishes London Marathon under three hours, raises £8,873 for charity

Four‑time Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel completed the 2026 London Marathon in 2 hours 58 minutes, beating his own sub‑three‑hour target and raising £8,873 for two F1‑linked charities.

Why it matters:

Vettel’s effort highlights how retired drivers can leverage their fame to support community causes and promote health. The funds flow back into the sport’s ecosystem, reinforcing the role of F1 personalities in charitable outreach.

The details:

• Vettel and F1 journalist Tom Clarkson ran together to raise funds for the Grand Prix Trust and the Brain & Spine Foundation.
• Grand Prix Trust – created by Sir Jackie Stewart in the 1980s – supports F1 community members facing hardship.
• Brain & Spine Foundation – launched in 1992 by Prof. Sidney Watkins and neurosurgeon Peter Hamlyn – focuses on brain and spinal disorder care.
• Vettel’s personal goal was sub‑three‑hours; he finished in 2 h 58 m 13 s.
• He told BBC Sport, “It felt very long… I’m very excited still, and very happy that I finished.”
• Fundraising target £5,000 was surpassed, reaching £8,873.

What's next:

Vettel says he’d recommend the marathon to anyone and is open to future charity runs. His involvement may inspire other current and former F1 figures to lend their names to fundraising events, widening the sport’s charitable impact.