16 July 2023 , 19:35
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F1 legend Sebastian Vettel has hinted he could return to the sport less than a year after retiring.
The German spent 15 years as a driver for Toro Rosso, Red Bull, Ferrari and Aston Martin. He won four successive drivers' world championships while at the second of those teams, before emerging as Lewis Hamilton's closest challenger during his time with the Scuderia.
He opted to retire at the end of last season after two successive bottom half finishes with Aston Martin. The F1 legend is back in a racing car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend, driving two vehicles from his own collection.
The first is Nigel Mansell's championship-winning Williams FW14B, with the second being Aryton Senna's McLaren MP4/8 from 1993. Both have been converted to run on synthetic fuels, with environmental issues having become close to Vettel's heart.
His support of environmental issues could now see him return to F1, with the sport's bosses keen to lead the way when it comes to sustainability. And Vettel has now revealed that he has held talks about a potential role.
Sebastian Vettel warns of looming F1 ban and is "very worried about the future"
“We’ll see but I have some ideas. I’ve been to Monaco earlier this year. I had a very good meeting with [F1 president] Stefano [Domenicali]. Other than obviously the cars directly polluting, F1 has a huge responsibility because it’s a very big event," he told Planet F1.
“A lot of people attend, I think you had around 500,000 people in the British Grand Prix last weekend. So there’s a lot more to it than just the cars but obviously the cars, everybody sees them.
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Vettel retired from his career as a driver at the end of last season (Formula 1 via Getty Images)“It’s important that it’s headed in the right direction. But I’m talking [with F1] and I have some ideas. Obviously, we’ll see what the future brings.”
When he announced his retirement last summer, Vettel admitted that he held concerns over F1's impact on the environment, given the globe-trotting nature of the sport.
“I know how intense this job is and how much dedication goes into this and if you do this I am convinced you have to do it the right way. But also physically time away from home, from kids and family.
"I have [also] grown other interests and views and I can’t ignore these voices. Obviously, travelling the world, racing cars and burning resources, literally, are things that I cannot look away from.
“Once I think you see these things and you are aware, I don’t think you can really unsee it. When it comes to the climate crisis, there is no way that F1 or any sport or business can avoid it, because it impacts all of us.
"Maybe it’ll be pushed back or be more quiet, but it’s only a matter of time – that we don’t have. The biggest challenge is probably waiting for us while we decide to do other things. That’s what I’m facing and in all honesty, I’m also scared of what’s coming."