Sebastian Vettel leaves F1 comeback door open: ‘He would have loved to drive with us’ – Four-time Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel has not completely ruled out a return to the sport. Since his departure from Aston Martin at the end of the 2022 season, speculation about a possible comeback has been rife.
The German racing legend has been linked with a number of teams and, although nothing has materialised, his name continues to circulate around the F1 paddock in 2025.
Vettel’s departure from Aston Martin was not entirely on his terms. Although he publicly referred to it as retirement, insiders suggest that he was still keen to continue racing at the highest level. In the months following his departure, he explored potential opportunities in F1, even holding talks with former employers Red Bull. However, the door to a return with the reigning champions was firmly shut.
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Lingering ambitions
Since then, the man from Heppenheim in Germany has maintained a consistent stance – never completely ruling out the idea of a comeback.
“You never know what will happen in life,” Vettel has repeatedly stated when asked about his future in F1. His answers have sparked continued speculation, with fans and pundits alike wondering if he could one day return to the grid.
A recent report from Germany website, F1-Insider, suggests that Vettel’s openness to a return is not just a standard PR response. The publication claims that Vettel has admitted to his inner circle that he still feels fit enough to compete. His commitment to fitness and passion for racing remains strong, and he has not completely dismissed the idea of a return.
“He is still looking for an opportunity to make a comeback,” the report states, keeping alive the hopes of those who would like to see the German back behind the wheel of an F1 car.
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A possible Red Bull reunion? Marko says no
One of the most intriguing possibilities was a possible return to Red Bull Racing, the team with which Vettel won his four consecutive world titles from 2010 to 2013. However, despite his willingness, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko confirmed that such a reunion was never seriously considered.
“Sebastian would have loved to drive alongside Max Verstappen,” Marko told F1-Insider.
“But it wouldn’t have made sense, also to protect him. Max would have clearly beaten him and damaged Sebastian’s reputation. I couldn’t and wouldn’t have allowed that to happen.”
Marko’s statement makes it clear that he believes Vettel would have struggled against Verstappen, the current dominant force in Formula One. Whether Vettel could have posed a real challenge to the Dutchman is debatable, but Red Bull decided not to take the risk.
This refusal was not an isolated incident. Vettel also explored options with Sauber, who are set to become Audi’s factory team in 2026. However, no agreement was reached, leaving Vettel without a viable seat for a comeback.
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Would Vettel fit into the current F1 landscape?
If Vettel is genuinely interested in returning, the question is where would he fit in? Most top teams already have stable driver line-ups, and there are very few open seats at competitive teams.
Red Bull remain firmly committed to Verstappen, and while Sergio Pérez’s position was made untenable and was replaced with Liam Lawson, the team have other potential candidates such as Yuki Tsunoda who is waiting in the wings.
Mercedes, another high-profile option, have Kimi Antonelli and George Russell locked in for the foreseeable future. Ferrari, the team Vettel drove for between 2015 and 2020, also have their line-up secured with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
With few realistic options at the top teams, Vettel’s best bet would be to return via a midfield team such as Williams or Alpine. The new Cadillac works team has also been touted as a potential move for the German. However, it remains unclear whether he would be willing to join a less competitive outfit just for the sake of a return to the grid.
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Alternative racing options: Le Mans and beyond?
If F1 does not offer Vettel a way back, he could explore alternative racing categories. Many retired F1 drivers have found success in endurance racing, and Vettel himself has hinted at an interest in events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Fernando Alonso, another former F1 champion, made a successful transition to endurance racing before returning to F1. Could Vettel follow a similar route? He has already taken part in various demonstration runs and vintage car events, suggesting that he still enjoys the thrill of competitive driving.
In addition, the growing popularity of Formula E and the World Endurance Championship (WEC) opens up further opportunities for Vettel. With major manufacturers like Porsche, Ferrari and Toyota heavily invested in endurance racing, a high-profile driver like Vettel could be a valuable addition to any of these programs.
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Will Vettel return to F1?
For now, the question of Vettel’s return remains unanswered. His comments suggest that he has not completely moved on, but the lack of vacancies in competitive teams makes a comeback difficult.
At 37, Vettel would not be the oldest driver on the grid – Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso continue to perform at a high level in their 40s. However, the modern F1 calendar is more demanding than ever and returning after a long break is never easy.
If an opportunity does present itself, it will probably require a combination of luck, timing and team dynamics to work in his favour. Until then, Vettel remains on the sidelines, keeping the door open but without a clear path back to the pinnacle of motorsport.
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People should really stop milking something that isn’t going to happen anyway as Seb not only hasn’t said he’d want or intend to return, but he also made clear just last year that he won’t return, nor has he repeatedly left the door open.
He stopped with a clear intention just like Nico Rosberg, so he isn’t going back on that decision, which people should simply accept.
I forgot to add that as he’s made clear that he won’t return nor does he even want or intend to return, still contradicting him is pointless.
Otherwise, we might as well start making the same contradictory claims about Kimi, for that matter.