F1 News: Sebastian Vettel Could Make Racing Return "With A Clear Conscience" As Early As Next Year

“When you’ve been doing top-class sport for so many years and suddenly you’re not doing anything anymore, then you’re missing something.”

Author:
Saajan Jogia
Publish date:
Sep 30, 2023

Former F1 driver Marc Surer believes that the environmental progress made in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) could attract Sebastian Vettel back into the world of racing, considering his environmental endeavors and the urge to experience the thrill of racing once again.

The four-time World Champion was approached by Jota to race the Porsche 963 next year but a deal has not been signed yet. The team has been actively seeking the best drivers for its hypercars, after signing Robert Kubica and Jenson Button.

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Recently at the Red Bull event at the Nurburgring, Vettel expressed that he was missing the thrill of racing. Jota team principal Sam Hignett confirmed that talks did take place between the team and Vettel over the 2024 seat.

However, there's more to like in WEC for Vettel than Formula 1. What could be most appealing to him is the use of sustainable fuel in WEC's Hypercar class. On the other hand, F1 won't be carbon neutral until 2030.

In addition, Surer believes that WEC would offer the ideal work-life balance scenario to Vettel that he would look for with its eight rounds in a season package, when compared to Formula 1's 24 rounds next year.

Talking on the Formel1.de YouTube channel, Surer said:

“[Vettel] perhaps feels with the Hypercars that this is more environmentally friendly than the current Formula 1.
"The Hypercars already have this modern technology in them. From that point of view, he could perhaps do it with a clear conscience.
"His mental attitude with his environmental activities does not fit in [with F1], so he would have to have a good reason [to return].
"Hypercars are already a step ahead of Formula 1 now, so he could probably get his act together and say, ‘Yes, I have a good excuse there'.”

Surer went on to say that eventually, Vettel could be pushed to get back into racing by the feeling of something "missing" in his life. He added:

“I think the ceiling will fall on his head.
"Because when you’ve been doing top-class sport for so many years and suddenly you’re not doing anything anymore, then you’re missing something.”