Sebastian Vettel has cooled concerns that he could be prepared to make a shock return to Formula 1 despite admitting there are periods where he “flirts” with the idea.
Vettel elected to retire at the end of 2022 amid the desire to spend more time with his close ones and due to F1’s direction being antithetical to his sustainable views.
However, the four-time F1 champion has failed to rule out a comeback, providing the circumstances align and he could land a competitive drive to add to his 53 victories.
Following the revelation that Lewis Hamilton will move to Ferrari in 2025, there is an open seat alongside George Russell at Mercedes that Vettel has been tipped to fill.
But while Vettel revealed he has been in contact with Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff, he denied that the topic of their conversation surrounded the vacant drive.
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“We spoke on the phone, but not specifically about the fact that I could take the [available] place, but rather that a lot is happening at Mercedes,” Vettel told sport.de.
Vettel admitted that he does still “think about” the proposal of returning like Fernando Alonso but “when I made the decision back then, I had several reasons for it.”
Wolff has declared Max Verstappen is his top target to replace Hamilton as he casts a glance on the situation at Red Bull since the investigation into Christian Horner.
However, Vettel believes that Verstappen, who is seeking a fourth consecutive title this season, would be unwise to depart Red Bull while it remains the dominant team.
“There is of course a lot of unrest at the moment, but I think from a sporting perspective there is currently no reason for him to think about anything else,” he stated.
Vettel has conceded that he was shocked with Hamilton’s choice to depart Mercedes to pursue a new chapter with Ferrari, citing it must’ve been a “difficult decision”.
“Of course, like many others, I was surprised because of the connection he had with Mercedes over the years,” he added.
“I thought that somehow another report would come from ‘I don’t know where’, but then it was confirmed. I then wrote to him straight away and congratulated him.”
The German was spotted in the F1 paddock in Monaco and Japan last term, where the current grid helped him set up a bee hotel on the exit of the first turn at Suzuka.
The ex-Red Bull and Ferrari driver has told the German publication that he has “plans for Formula 1” but was unsure “whether that will take place” in the coming months.
Vettel has hopped back behind the wheel of a racing car this month, though, with a test in the Porsche 963 as he ponders a potential attempt at the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Asked whether he had ratified plans to compete at the iconic Circuit de la Sarthe in June, Vettel responded: “I don’t know that yet, that’s the honest answer.
He added: “I don’t know what will come of it yet, I have to feel a little bit about it now. Time will tell.”
