The four-time World Champion, Sebastian Vettel, has been rumoured to return to the sport with Audi after retiring from the sport in 2022.
The F1 “silly season” rumours are in full swing and 2024 certainly hasn’t been disappointing in that aspect.
For those who don’t know what “silly season” is, it’s a term that has been branded onto drivers and teams whenever a rumour of a potential driver moves.
Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari kicked it off back in February. With plenty of talk regarding Carlos Sainz’s future over the first half of the season.
Ollie Bearman’s name was floating around following his P7 finish in Saudi Arabia. Esteban Ocon also had his name mentioned by many teams before he joined Haas.
The latest name to join the rumour mill? Four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel. Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko revealing that the German has reached out regarding a comeback to the sport.
Although a few have wondered if the now 36-year-old would reach the level where he was during the pinnacle of his career.
Vettel won four World Championships in a row during 2010-2013 before making the switch to Ferrari in 2015. At Ferrari, he never managed to win a championship despite valiant efforts during the 2017 & 18 seasons.
So, should Vettel return to the sport, and what are Audi’s other options?
A reunion with former team principal
If the German was to return to the sport, he would be reunited with former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto.
Binotto and Vettel worked together between 2019 and 2020. It wouldn’t be the only reunion that the 36-year-old would have if he joined Audi.
Wheatley was a key member of Red Bull and enjoyed several successes with Vettel during the World Championship seasons.
Marko spoke about this playing a factor in the national Austrian newspaper ‘Österreich’.
He said: “Vettel harmonised perfectly with Jonathan Wheatley in the past and he also knows Mattia Binotto from his time at Ferrari.”
Has Vettel got the longevity of others?
One concern for a team that would be looking to take on the German would be the longevity of his career. Especially after two seasons away from the sport.
Of course, we have seen drivers take sabbaticals before, including Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen and Micheal Schumacher.
Similarly to Schumacher’s break between 2007-09, Vettel had taken himself away from the sport for the first 12 months, but he returned to racing action earlier this year when he test drove a Porsche Hypercar ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Yet compared to Alonso, who was competing in WEC during his time away from F1, there’s quite a difference and there would probably be an element of rustiness from Vettel if he was to return.
But many fans believed Vettel’s peak finished in 2018 following a DNF at his home race in Germany. Despite glimpses of his old self during his two-year stint with Aston Martin, which included a podium finish at the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Yes, there was a dip from the high level of the Red Bull wins compared to his final two seasons with Ferrari. However, there must be some desire somewhere if he wants to return to racing.
A German driver lineup
If Vettel were to come out of retirement and return to Formula 1 for the 2025 or 2026 season with Sauber or Audi, it would create an all-German driver pairing with current Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg.
The duo has plenty of experience within Formula One and would be a safe pair for the team in terms of on track action and car development. With over 500 race starts between them and plenty of experience when developing cars.
Other options for Audi?
There are other options that the German manufacturers could consider ahead of their takeover in 2026.
Current Sauber drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu are both options. The Finnish driver having plenty of experience in the sport whilst the Chinese driver brings plenty of funding towards his drive.
Former F1 driver Mika Salo told ‘Iltalehti’ newspaper that he thinks Bottas could still remain with Sauber.
Salo said: “Alpine is still being speculated, but I don’t really see any point in moving there. It would be better if he could continue where he is already.
“I saw him in Hungary, but I didn’t bother to ask him about this, because I knew he wouldn’t tell me anything, anyway.”
If Audi would want to fill out their driver lineup with two German drivers but don’t want to bring back Vettel, then Mick Schumacher could be another option.
Schumacher didn’t have the greatest of stints with Haas during his two years with the team after winning the 2020 Formula 2 Championship and has spent this season as a reserve driver for Mercedes whilst competing in WEC for Alpine.
However, it seems Audi is in no rush to make a decision. No doubt they want to see how the other cards fall on the grid before making any moves.
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