Since announcing his retirement at the end of the 2022 Formula 1 season, not a single month has gone by without rumors suggesting that Sebastian Vettel could make a sensational return to the Formula 1 grid, potentially with one team or another. However, realistically speaking, for the four-time Formula 1 World Champion, the F1 chapter appears to be definitively closed. His departure from the sport was a conscious and deliberate decision, made in order to focus on other aspects of his life — including his family, environmental activism, and personal projects. That sentiment was perfectly encapsulated in the now-iconic phrase “Danke F1” often seen printed on his t-shirts.
Yet, despite walking away from Formula 1, the desire to be back on track has never truly faded. For Sebastian Vettel, retiring from Formula 1 never meant retiring from motorsport altogether. That is why he has always shown a particular interest in the world of endurance racing — and in particular, in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, widely considered one of the most prestigious and historic events in the sport.
In a recent interview with Auto Motor und Sport, Sebastian Vettel confirmed that he has no plans to return to Formula 1. However, he did acknowledge that participating in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), starting as early as 2026, is a very realistic possibility. “I don’t want to rule anything out. There have been discussions,” Vettel revealed, “but at the moment, everything hasn’t quite fallen into place yet.”
What attracts the German driver to endurance racing is precisely the contrast it offers compared to his years in Formula 1. “In the past, as a solo driver, I wasn’t really interested in endurance racing. But today I see things differently. I find the team concept exciting — sharing the car, needing to compromise — all of that is fascinating to me,” said Vettel.
For Sebastian Vettel, a WEC campaign would also be more manageable and sustainable compared to the intense demands of a full Formula 1 calendar. Importantly, it would be compatible with family life — a crucial factor for the retired champion. “In motorsport, you can’t just say: I’ll do only half of the races. In that sense, the WEC fits quite well. It has eight races that are spread out in a different way compared to F1. In the end, it always comes down to how intensely you want to pursue something. I’ve always had the need to do things properly if I choose to commit. Racing just to show up — that’s not for me.”
Following the heights of his championship-winning era at Red Bull Racing, Sebastian Vettel experienced more challenging years — first at Scuderia Ferrari and later at Aston Martin. Many fans hoped for a career revival, a new chapter to redeem the difficult seasons. After all, the current Formula 1 grid includes several veteran drivers who continue to perform at a high level, such as Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, and Nico Hülkenberg. From this perspective, Vettel could have easily extended his Formula 1 career by several more years. But his final statements are clear and leave little room for speculation.
“Formula 1 is over,” the former Ferrari driver stated firmly. “At some point, the time comes when you have to make room for others. Just look at the rookies we have today — it’s right that there’s been a generational change. This is not a criticism of the veterans, but rather a positive sign for the younger generation. Back in my day, I didn’t care who was retiring — I just wanted to race.”
While a return to the Formula 1 paddock in an advisory or managerial capacity remains a possibility for the future, for now it seems clear that Sebastian Vettel is not yet ready to leave racing behind entirely. His competitive spirit remains alive — and the 24 Hours of Le Mans could be the perfect arena for the next chapter of his motorsport journey.
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