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Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel won\u2019t rule out making a sensational return to the Formula One grid.<\/p>\n
However, the legendary German driver admits it\u2019s not something he\u2019s thinking about right now.<\/p>\n
Vettel retired from F1 at the end of last year following a hugely successful 15-year career, which included four titles, 53 wins, 57 pole positions and 122 podiums across 300 grand prix.<\/p>\n
Such is his popularity and ability however, that the 36-year-old has been touted for a comeback on multiple occasions, most notably just before the 2023 season started.<\/p>\n
When Lance Stroll injured his wrist on the eve of pre-season testing, Aston Martin explored the possibility of bringing Vettel back for the opening round in Bahrain, though Stroll was eventually passed fit to race anyway.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the rumour mill keeps spinning and though he is enjoying retirement, the former Red Bull and Ferrari star has suggested he could return to the cockpit one day.<\/p>\n
In an interview with Sky Sports, Vettel was asked if he was keeping himself race-ready and replied: \u2018Yeah, but because I want to, not because I\u2019m like, come back or if somebody falls out I\u2019m going to [step in], not because of that.<\/p>\n
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\u2018But so I guess my neck is not up to speed. No, it can\u2019t be, but everything else is pretty, pretty good, I would say.\u2019<\/p>\n
It is not rare for past champions to return to F1 after a hiatus, with Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, Nigel Mansell, Niki Lauda and Alain Prost prominent examples.<\/p>\n
Put to him that he could follow suit, Vettel said: \u2018I can\u2019t say no, because that you don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n
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\u2018I think it\u2019s something that if you asked all of them, probably some of them would have said \u201cno\u201d. And some of them I don\u2019t know, but in the end all of them came back, so I can\u2019t exclude it.<\/p>\n
\u2018It probably will depend much on when, and obviously it\u2019s not endless, because 36 is not like, \u201cyeah in 10 years\u2019 time\u201d. Maybe I think about it when time has passed but it will depend on the challenge, whatever, but it\u2019s not in my head right now.<\/p>\n
\u2018And I\u2019m enjoying the sort of outlook of the challenge of what to do next. It will be the way I see it, the biggest challenge for any racing driver and the biggest challenge for any sportsman, sportswoman, what do you do after?<\/p>\n
\u2018Because naturally you will be like 30-35, 40-45 \u2013 depending on your sport and discipline. And then what?<\/p>\n
\u2018There\u2019s a lot of life left and life can be great even though you\u2019re not racing, you know, the absolute limit in the fastest car in the world, but you can still do lots of great things that give you great pleasure.\u2019<\/p>\n
The 2023 F1 season continues this weekend with the Singapore Grand Prix, a race Vettel has won a record five times, with his triumph in 2019 the last win of his career.<\/p>\n