Sky Sports F1 strategy analyst Bernie Collins, who previously worked as a strategy engineer with the Aston Martin Formula One team, has shared her insights on Sebastian Vettel’s potential re-entry into Formula 1. The four-time champion took a step back from the sport at the end of 2022 and has since made only sporadic appearances on the track.
There has been considerable speculation about the German driver’s possible comeback following his retirement, highlighted by his participation in the Race of Champions alongside fellow German driver and godson Mick Schumacher, a stint with sustainable fuel at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed, and, most recently, a test run in the Porsche World Endurance Championship hypercar.
Vettel began his rookie Formula One season in 2007 with Toro Rosso, now rebranded as Visa Cash App RB, and stayed until he advanced to Red Bull in 2009. His tenure at Red Bull was marked by four consecutive championship victories from 2010 to 2014. The German driver then moved to Ferrari for the 2015 season before concluding his F1 career with Aston Martin, where he raced from 2021 to 2022.
During an appearance on The Fast and The Curious podcast, Collins discussed the possibility of Vettel returning to Formula One.
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She commented:
“I think he would. I think that all of them have that drive within them, and all of them have been doing this for the past X number of years. Not even their F1 career – like their karting career, their junior career, they’ve been doing it for so long.
“So, he stepped away [from F1] less than I did [sic], a year and a half ago. Unless you very quickly fill that void, I imagine for all of them, there’s that sort of slight pullback.”
Collins continued, relating the situation to her own career:
“Thinking of me, when you think if someone said, ‘Oh, you can get on the pit wall for strategy and do one more race’, I’d probably do it.
“So if that’s me, and I had only been doing strategy for eight years, he’s going to be like someone says, ‘Oh, you can get in this reasonably fast car for a year’ he’d be like, ‘Yeah.’
“I think, unfortunately, he was racing in Aston Martin, the car wasn’t performing as expected, he was trying to prioritise his home life, his kids, stuff like that – very important.
“So I think, if you’re then given an opportunity to get into a car that you know is going to hit the ground running.”
Speculation about Vettel’s future moves continues, with rumours suggesting both a possible return to racing and a role within Formula One Management focusing on sustainability, an issue about which the German driver is passionate. However, as of now, nothing has been officially confirmed by Vettel or his management team.
Uncommon Knowledge
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