Vettel unlikely to be active in 2024, but does not rule out comeback
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- GPblog.com
For a long time, there were many speculations about a possible continuation of Sebastian Vettel's racing career. For instance, he would compete in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and would drive the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024. In the end, not much of this seems to be coming to fruition after all.
There are several F1 drivers participating in the WEC, such as Mick Schumacher and Robert Kubica. In addition, motorbike world champion Valentino Rossi will also compete throughout 2024. Sebastian Vettel could be a nice addition to this list, but it looks like it won't happen next year after all, reports MotorsportMagazin.com.
Testing with JOTA
Porsche's JOTA team seemed to be the place for the German driver, but JOTA team boss Dieter Gass confirmed that Vettel had not tested with JOTA. "We had contact, but for several reasons, such as the fact that the vehicle was abroad, you have to give 30 days' notice for tests and also because of Sebastian's own personal plans, a test with our Porsche could not really take place."
The eight upcoming WEC races plus preparation and testing can be extremely time-consuming. Therefore, it is no surprise that Vettel is opting for his family. He already indicated after leaving Formula 1, that he wanted to spend more time with them.
Gass stressed that the door remains open for Vettel. "We remain interested in working with him and continuing discussions at any time, including with regard to 2025."
Vettel cautious, but does not rule anything out
Vettel himself remains cautious about his plans for the coming years. "There was some discussion, because of course I had several questions, but there is nothing concrete yet," the German said. He is happy with how things are going, but he does not rule out a comeback. "Of course it could always happen again, because that's something I miss and when I'm next to it on the track, of course I feel it. It's not easy and in the end you bite your teeth."
One of the stumbling points for Vettel when it comes to racing is the lack of sustainability. Yet he says this would not stop him from returning. "Motorsport is not sustainable yet. Many things we do is not yet sustainable. The answer (to the question of when he will get back in the car) cannot be total abstinence. That will not happen. In that sense in it's my passion. I discovered it as a little boy''. According to the German, it is about finding more sustainable alternatives, such as synthetic fuel.