Vettel, who retired at the age of 35 after the 2022 season to prioritize family time and environmental concerns, acknowledged the persistent speculation surrounding his comeback.
He joins a list of legendary drivers, including Alain Prost, Niki Lauda, Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, and Kimi Raikkonen, who took breaks from F1 before making triumphant returns. Notably, Lauda secured the 1985 championship with McLaren after his comeback.
While Vettel isn’t actively pursuing a return to the grid, he hasn’t ruled out the possibility.
“I can’t say no, because you never know,” Vettel shared during his participation in a recent demonstration run of the 2011 championship-winning RB7 at the Nurburgring, as reported by Sky Sports F1.
“It’s something that, if you asked all of [the drivers who left and came back], probably some of them would have initially said ‘no’ to a return. But in the end, all of them came back, so I can’t exclude it.”
However, Vettel emphasized that the timing and conditions would play a crucial role in any potential comeback, stating, “It probably will depend much on when, and obviously it’s not endless because at 36, I’m not thinking about coming back in 10 years. It’s not in my head right now.”
“I’m enjoying the outlook of the challenge of what to do next. It will be the biggest challenge for any racing driver and any sportsman or sportswoman: What do you do after retirement?”
Vettel further clarified that he would only consider a return on his own terms, not as a substitute for an injured driver, dispelling rumours of him replacing the injured Lance Stroll earlier in the 2023 season.
“I would come back because I want to, not because I have to replace someone,” Vettel stated. “My neck is not fully prepared for it, but everything else [physically] is in pretty good shape.”
The upcoming Formula 1 race is the Singapore Grand Prix, scheduled for the weekend of September 15-17, marking the 16th race of the season.
The Marina Bay Circuit in Singapore, known for its demanding 5.063km bumpy street surface and humid conditions, will once again challenge drivers to push their limits.
