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Sebastian Vettel on the sidelines of a race in November 2022

Photo: Dan Istitene / Formula 1 / Getty Images

Is a sensational comeback on the horizon? For former world champion Sebastian Vettel, a return to Formula 1 could be “attractive and interesting”. “The better the car, the better the team, the more exciting the prospect of being successful,” said Vettel in an interview with British radio station X.

Since record champion Lewis Hamilton, 39, is leaving Mercedes for Ferrari next season, one of the most coveted cockpits in the premier class is up for grabs for the 2025 season - however, team boss Toto Wolff's preferred candidate is world champion Max Verstappen from Red Bull. Should the 26th -year-old but does not make use of his exit clause, Vettel could become a candidate.

Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) also do not have a cockpit for 2025, and young Formula 2 hopeful Kimi Antonelli could also be an option.

“Someone you can never exclude”

"I follow the sport, I see what's going on," said Vettel, a comeback "could be attractive and interesting, but it really depends on the overall package." Because: "It's also a big commitment, with all the other things that happen besides driving."

Hamilton would welcome a return from Vettel. The ex-world champion would be a “great option” for the Mercedes team next year, said the Brit before the Japanese Grand Prix (Sunday, 7 a.m. / TV: Sky, live ticker: SPIEGEL.de). »A German driver, a multiple world champion and someone who has incredible values ​​and can take the team further forward. “I would be happy if he came back,” Hamilton said on Thursday.

No decision has been made yet, said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, 52, on Friday in Japan. And it won't fall "in the next few weeks," he added.

Basically, Vettel is “someone you can never exclude,” said Wolff, the former world champion’s successes are “phenomenal,” and sometimes a break is “good” for a driver. But the driver market is “dynamic” and it is still “far too early” to make a decision.

According to “Bild”, however, Vettel was not on Wolff’s shortlist. He had already narrowed down the number of possible candidates, but did not want to name any names.

Vettel actually wants to continue spending a lot of time with his family

Family man Vettel, 36, said goodbye to the premier class after the 2022 season - also to be able to spend more time with his three children. Above all, his family situation speaks against a quick return to Formula 1. “Sometimes it happens that a little person says: 'Dad won't do that. Then you're away so much,'" the native of Heppenheim recently said on RTL: "I think I've enjoyed the last almost year and a half very intensively, also with the children - and hopefully the children too."

Vettel, who recently tested a Le Mans Porsche, would be fit for a comeback if the worst came to the worst. "In terms of age, I feel damn young when you consider that all the guys who are still there and have signed big contracts have been there longer," he said, referring to Hamilton and the 42-year-old Fernando Alonso.

Vettel most recently drove for Aston Martin in Formula 1, and before that he drove for Ferrari for six years. Vettel won his four world championship titles between 2010 and 2013 with Red Bull.

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