Overview

• Sebastian Vettel has confirmed that his children have explicitly forbidden him from returning to Formula 1 as a driver, citing their preference for his presence at home.
• The 37-year-old retired at the end of the 2022 season after two years with Aston Martin, prioritizing family life over the demanding F1 calendar.
• Speculation about a comeback persisted, with Lewis Hamilton hinting at a return, but Vettel’s most likely option, Audi, filled its driver lineup with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto.
• Helmut Marko has publicly endorsed Vettel as his ideal successor to lead Red Bull’s young driver program, a role Vettel has not ruled out but remains noncommittal about.
• Vettel remains active in motorsport through initiatives like the Race4Women karting program in Saudi Arabia, focusing on mentoring the next generation of drivers.