Four-time F1 world champion Vettel announced in July that he would retire from the series at the end of the season, ending a 15-year stint in Grand Prix racing.
It means this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix will be Vettel’s last scheduled appearance at Suzuka, a track he has always identified as his favorite and where he has won four times.
Vettel also clinched his second F1 title at Suzuka in 2011, and admitted “it feels a bit different” knowing it is his last Japanese Grand Prix compared to other events.
Asked by Autosport if he had any interest in trying the Japanese categories in the future so he could race at Suzuka again, Vettel felt he could “never say never”.
“Obviously I love to drive, and around that track I always felt very alive and the passion always felt very alive,” Vettel said.
“We’ll see what kind of car maybe in the future will come. Maybe one of these guys [the other F1 drivers] in future races here I will feel a little sick, I don’t know.
“I don’t want them to feel this way!” But I wouldn’t mind coming back for a race at Suzuka anytime.
“But obviously we will see what the future holds. For the moment, I have no projects. But I think there are some exciting races happening in Japan. I don’t know, we’ll see.”
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing RB7 Renault celebrates his second world championship with his team at the 2011 Japanese GP
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Vettel confirmed he was serious in his comment, smiling at the prospect of returning for a “one-race career”.
“Yeah, if someone is happy to enter a driver for just one race!” he added.
“I’m sure those guys wouldn’t be happy to step down. But it would be something I would seriously consider.
Vettel has won his four Suzuka victories with Red Bull, the first in 2009. He is also the most recent pole-sitter at the 2019 Japanese Grand Prix, when racing for Ferrari.
The Aston Martin driver has claimed he has yet to make firm plans beyond his retirement from F1, with his 300th and final Grand Prix start scheduled for Abu Dhabi at the end of November.
Four-time F1 world champion Vettel announced in July that he would retire from the series at the end of the season, ending a 15-year stint in Grand Prix racing.
It means this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix will be Vettel’s last scheduled appearance at Suzuka, a track he has always identified as his favorite and where he has won four times.
Vettel also clinched his second F1 title at Suzuka in 2011, and admitted “it feels a bit different” knowing it is his last Japanese Grand Prix compared to other events.
Asked by Autosport if he had any interest in trying the Japanese categories in the future so he could race at Suzuka again, Vettel felt he could “never say never”.
“Obviously I love to drive, and around that track I always felt very alive and the passion always felt very alive,” Vettel said.
“We’ll see what kind of car maybe in the future will come. Maybe one of these guys [the other F1 drivers] in future races here I will feel a little sick, I don’t know.
“I don’t want them to feel this way!” But I wouldn’t mind coming back for a race at Suzuka anytime.
“But obviously we will see what the future holds. For the moment, I have no projects. But I think there are some exciting races happening in Japan. I don’t know, we’ll see.”
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing RB7 Renault celebrates his second world championship with his team at the 2011 Japanese GP
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Vettel confirmed he was serious in his comment, smiling at the prospect of returning for a “one-race career”.
“Yeah, if someone is happy to enter a driver for just one race!” he added.
“I’m sure those guys wouldn’t be happy to step down. But it would be something I would seriously consider.
Vettel has won his four Suzuka victories with Red Bull, the first in 2009. He is also the most recent pole-sitter at the 2019 Japanese Grand Prix, when racing for Ferrari.
The Aston Martin driver has claimed he has yet to make firm plans beyond his retirement from F1, with his 300th and final Grand Prix start scheduled for Abu Dhabi at the end of November.