Vettel: I rediscovered the world, F1 has become smaller

Talk of the four-time F1 World Champion making a comeback has wafted through motorsport news websites since Vettel started appearing at GPs, most recently during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend where he was on hand to promote his “Racing for Biodiversity” project at Suzuka.

He has also been an 'ambassador' for using renewable fuels to keep normally aspirated-powered motorsport alive. All these endeavours appear to keep Vettel busy. However, the question of a return to the cockpit is always tagged on to any media sit down with him these days.

Speaking to German news agency DPA this week about a possible return to racing, 36-year-old Vettel said: “You can never rule out something like that, but at some point, the time will be over. My age isn’t the issue and it was my decision to draw the line. But I didn’t draw it just to cancel it a year later.

“I have the privilege of spending more time with my family and my children, that is a priority. Just as I have rediscovered the world in recent years, Formula 1, no matter how big it may be, always has become smaller," reckoned Vettel.

Right now a return to F1 for Vettel seems highly unlikely, but that world is constantly changing and with Sergio Perez's future increasingly murky at Red Bull, Audi's forthcoming F1 foray, an 11th team and other options perhaps not seen coming yet, could change that.

Also worth noting that his former rivals, 42-year-old Fernando Alonso and 38-year-old Lewis Hamilton are still going strong in the top flight. More realistic is a journey in WEC Hypercars for the German.

Regarding his open-ended future, without any set long-term plan, Vettel said: “I’m excited about that myself,” he replied to a corresponding question. But that was exactly my intention: not to immediately take on the next task or get into the next cockpit and first get to know the side of me that can try everything and has time.

"I haven't had that in the past. I live in one Phase where you can feel and discover yourself a little differently. At the same time, I really enjoy the time with the family. That's why I can't give this dream answer as to what will be in store for me in the future."

Whatever the case, environment and sustainability will be a high priority for Vettel: “All the things that have been bothering me in recent years will continue to bother me in the future and it could perhaps go in that direction."

According to several reports, one of Vettel's choices is said to be racing a second Jota Porsche 963 in the 2024 WEC Hypercar series, including Le Mans, with former F1 rivals Jenson Button and Robert Kubica as teammates driving the Hertz-backed car.

Among those reports, Auto Motor und Sport F1 correspondent Michael Schmidt writes that Vettel has been offered an LMP2 test to familiarise himself with the current era sportscar prototypes with guidance from experienced Jota Sport drivers António Félix da Costa and Will Stevens.

Asked about such a foray by AMuS, Vettel replied: "Nothing has been signed or decided yet, but I have the matter in the back of my mind. I still have time to decide."