Vettel discloses racing future: Is an F1 return in the cards for the former champion?

After his departure, and particularly with Lewis Hamilton announcing that he was leaving Mercedes prior to the 2024 F1 season's start, Vettel's name sounded as a candidate to take over the then vacant drive.

However, it was only rumours unfounded rumours, as the German racing outfit's plans became clear. A bet on the future and on the team's junior driver programme was the path to be chosen as Andrea Kimi Antonelli completed an intense TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) programme intended to ready him for his F1 debut this season.

When Vettel retired he did so to spend more time with his family, and in an interview with Auto, Motor und Sport, the Heppenheimer firmly denies a potential F1 comeback.

"Formula 1 is over. At some point, the time is ripe to leave the field to others. You can see that with the rookies," he said to the German outlet.

"In the past, I wasn't interested in which of the established ones no longer drives. The main thing is that I get to drive," Vettel said.

The former BMW Sauber, Toro Rossos, Red Bull, Ferrari and Aston Martin driver does seem open to the idea of taking part in endurance racing and refrains from ruling an incursion in the WEC (World Endurance Championship, ed.) out.

As per the reasons why a return to active racing in said series has not come to fruition, Vettel says the necessary factors have simply not fallen into place.

More than not ruling it out, Vettel's heart with regards to endurance racing has now changed. "I see that with different eyes today. I think it's really exciting to make compromises in this team structure, to share a car."

Plus, one of the upsides to the WEC series is that the calendar consists only of 8 races, a substantial drop from F1's 24 Grand Prix weekends per season.

"The WEC would actually fit in well with its eight races, which are also stacked up differently than Formula 1," said Vettel.

The former F1 champion, though, would have to immerse himself if he was to undertake the endurance racing challenge.

What exactly would it take for Vettel to finally make the decision to reignite his active racing career, albeit if this time is in the WEC?

"The right constellation at the right time, the right partnership, the right outlook," the Heppenheimer concluded.