Sebastian Vettel considering ‘concrete’ offer for 2024 racing return – report

Sebastian Vettel has reportedly been made a “concrete” offer to join the World Endurance Championship next season, through British Hypercar team Jota.

德国出版汽车电机和运动has reported that the four-time Formula 1 World Champion is mulling over a proposal to drive for the team next season, which runs customer Porsche 963 Hypercars in the top tier of endurance racing.

Vettel retired from Formula 1 at the end of last season and, while he said he is currently enjoying his time away from motor racing, has not shut the door on motorsport entirely.

Sebastian Vettel: ‘Nothing signed or decided yet’ on possible 2024 seat

Respected journalist Michael Schmidt spoke to Vettel about the possibility of a return to motorsport next season, with the speculation linking the former Red Bull and Ferrari driver to a move to Hypercars, potentially to drive alongside Robert Kubica and Jenson Button in an all-star line-up, with AMuS’ report claiming a test in an LMP2 car could be lined up for Vettel soon.

Kubica and 2009 World Champion Button are both believed to have held talks with Jota themselves, while the likes of current Mercedes reserve Mick Schumacher is confirmed to have been in talks with Alpine’s WEC squad recently.

As for Vettel, he is taking stock before choosing his next move.

“Nothing has been signed or decided yet,” Vettel toldAMuSin Germany.

“But I have the matter in the back of my mind. I still have time to decide.

“If at some point I come to the conclusion that it doesn’t work without racing, then I will drive again.”

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Vettel has made it clear before that he cannot rule out a return to Formula 1 in future, for the fact that he does not want to be seen to be cutting himself off from the sport before appearing hypocritical later if he does take a seat.

With four World Championships and 53 race wins to his name, he already holds one of the most successful careers in the history of the sport, but the 36-year-old hinted he may not have closed the book entirely just yet.

“I’m not thinking about it too much, to be honest. That’s not a no, but how could you rule it out?” Vettel told Channel 4 at the weekend when asked if a return to F1 would ever be on the cards.

“I mean, I can say ‘no’ now but then in a year, I’m watching the race and I’m starting to panic – might happen, I don’t know.

“Then what? You know, then I was like, ‘Oh, but a year ago, you said no [to coming back]’, so I think it’s safer to say, you never know.

“But yeah, I mean it’s a big commitment. Obviously, I stopped for plenty of reasons. I love the time at home that I’ve got with the family.

“There’s other things in my head that do concern me and worry me, but also make me sort of optimistic when I see what other people are setting up, how they’re dedicating their times, their lives to a certain purpose.

“At the moment, one bubble is getting smaller and a lot of doors or things open up. It might be that at some point, it could be a good thing to think of jumping back into the bubble. I don’t know.”

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