Vettel announces that his Formula 1 racing career is 'finished.'

      He acknowledges that WEC could be suitable for him

      Sebastian Vettel has stated that his Formula 1 career is "over."

      While there have been suggestions regarding a possible return to the paddock as Dr. Helmut Marko's successor at Red Bull, hints have emerged since his retirement at the close of 2022 that he might contemplate racing again.

      The 38-year-old has revealed to Auto Motor und Sport that he has thought about returning to compete at Le Mans and in the World Endurance Championship (WEC).

      "I don’t want to dismiss the chance that something may happen," said the German. "Conversations have taken place, but it hasn’t materialized yet. However, the right circumstances, timing, partnership, and vision could change that."

      Vettel suggests that his fans could potentially see him behind the wheel in a competitive setting again.

      "To be honest, I didn’t have much interest in endurance racing from a solo driver perspective," he admitted, having previously driven for Red Bull, Ferrari, and Aston Martin. "But my viewpoint has shifted. I find it incredibly exciting—the team dynamics, sharing a car, and making compromises."

      WEC would also align well with his new role as a full-time family man.

      "In motorsport, it’s hard to say ‘I’ll only do part of the races.’ The WEC suits well with its eight races, which differ in structure from Formula 1."

      Thus, he openly states that his days in F1 are indeed "over."

      "It’s always a matter of how deeply you want to invest in something," Vettel remarked. "For me, it has always been important that when I commit to something, I want to do it thoroughly. Just participating for the sake of it isn’t my style.

      "Formula 1 is over," he affirmed.

      "At some point, it’s appropriate to make way for others. This is especially evident with the rookies—it's great that a whole new group of drivers has emerged.

      "This isn’t a criticism of the veteran drivers, but rather a support for the young talents," Vettel clarified. "In the past, I wasn’t concerned about which established drivers were leaving. What mattered most was that I had the opportunity to race."