From villain to hero, Sebastian Vettel is retiring from F1 at the end of 2022 leaving hordes of distraught fans around the globe. However, Vettel has hinted that while he is keen to retire, he can’t rule out the possibility of a return.

When speaking to Der Spiegel, Vettel said that, “I’d like to rule it out but I can’t. I have no idea how I’ll be ticking in a year or two.

“As far as the physical is concerned, I do a sport that you could still return to after a two-year break. However, I wish that in two years I would still say: ‘No thanks, I don’t need racing anymore.’”

Vettel also ruled out the idea of returning to the sport in the media as a pundit, “[I will] definitely not stand in front of the camera as a pundit with a microphone in my hand and give my two cents.

“I’m not sure I want to watch the race at all. Formula 1 was my purpose in life for 16 years. Now I secretly have an exception of myself to be able to cope without Formula 1 – like I’m going through rehab.”

What the future holds for Vettel after F1 is anyone’s guess, but you can be sure that given these comments, it won’t be in F1, at least not in the near future. However, will the dulcet tones of a Formula 1 car draw Vettel back to the grid like a cartoon floating towards cooling pie? Never say never.