Sebastian Vettel breaks silence on F1 return amid Mercedes rumours but has one key block

Sebastian Vettel has admitted he has thought about returning to Formula 1 - but the guilt of leaving his children behind to travel the world again is too much for him to consider a comeback.

Vettel retired at the end of the 2022 season after two years with Aston Martin, but many fans still hope the four-time champion will race again in F1. He is still only 36, younger than both Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, so age is not a barrier to a return. However, Vettel has previously stated that the 24-race season, which takes drivers all over the world, is not compatible with the family life he wants with his wife Hanna and their three children.

He admitted that it remains a significant barrier to an F1 return, telling German broadcaster RTL: "Of course, you think about it and flirt with it. Sometimes it's the case that [one of my children] says, 'Dad, don't do that, then you'll be gone so much. I really enjoyed the last year-and-a-half and also really enjoyed the time with the children, hopefully, the children did too. Maybe the mood will change again, but things are still going very well at the moment.

"There are also 24 races and beyond that, I know from my time how I would like to structure my job if I decided to do it. I don't think it's objectionable that there are other interests in my life. Not just people and relationships, but also other things that interest and motivate me/"

Mercedes are looking for a new driver because Hamilton is moving to Ferrari next year, and some people think Vettel might take his place. Vettel has said he talked to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff on the phone, but they didn't chat about him taking over from Hamilton.

He said: "We spoke on the phone. Of course, we also talked about the fact that