SEBASTIAN VETTEL has refused to rule out a sensational return to Formula One.
The four-time world champion retired from F1 last season.
However, he has now hinted at a possible return to the grid in 2024.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Vettel was asked whether he was keeping himself race ready.
In response he said: “Yeah, but because I want to, not because I’m like, come back or if somebody falls out I’m going to [step in], not because of that.
“But so I guess my neck is not up to speed. No, it can’t be, but everything else is pretty, pretty good, I would say.”
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The green-fingered Vettel was a popular figure in the sport before his retirement.
The 36-year-old won the title four times in a row with Red Bull, before driving with Ferrari and Aston Martin in the latter stages of his career.
Past world champions have made returns to the sport following an exit.
Kimi Raikkonen, Niki Laudu, Alain Prost Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso are a few prominent examples.
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Indeed, when Lance Stroll injured his wrist in pre-season testing, Aston Martin flirted with the idea of bringing the German back into the fold.
On a return, Vettel added: “I can’t say no, because that you don’t know.
“I think it’s something that if you asked all of them, probably some of them would have said ‘no’.
“And some of them I don’t know, but in the end all of them came back, so I can’t exclude it.
“I think it’s something that if you asked all of them, probably some of them would have said ‘no’.
“And some of them I don’t know, but in the end all of them came back, so I can’t exclude it.
“It probably will depend much on when, and obviously it’s not endless, because 36 is not like, ‘yeah in 10 years’ time’.”
He continued: “Maybe I think about it when time has passed but it will depend on the challenge, whatever, but it’s not in my head right now.
“And I’m 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?
“Because naturally you will be like 30-35, 40-45 – depending on your sport and discipline. And then what?
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“There’s a lot of life left and life can be great even though you’re 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.”
F1 visits Singapore this weekend for the next race in its calendar.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
