Sebastian Vettel has been linked with a return to Red Bull, where he won all four of his F1 titles
Sebastian Vettel’s rumoured comeback to F1 has seemingly been dismissed by Red Bull. The four-time world champion hung up his helmet in 2022 and had been touted for a shock return to the paddock following Helmut Marko’s departure from the team after they lost out on the Drivers’ Championship.
McLaren’s Lando Norris clinched the title, denying Max Verstappen a fifth straight crown. As a beloved figure at Red Bull during his racing days, combined with his interest in pursuing a management role, Vettel seemed ideally placed to succeed Marko. Yet according to BILD, there will be no fairytale homecoming for the German, with the team having no immediate plans to appoint anyone to the advisor role Marko held.
Since stepping away from racing, Vettel has remained connected to the sport while using his profile to promote environmental initiatives. Speaking to Sky Sports F1 at the Sao Paolo Grand Prix, he addressed speculation about a possible return.
“I don’t know, I read as well there was a lot of talk about it and so on, and I did speak with Helmut a little bit, but it never got anywhere, never gained any traction,” he said.
“I don’t know, if the right opportunity, position, perspective, whatever, turns up or could turn up, maybe there’s a role that I could be happy to step up to. Time will tell.”
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Vettel’s post-racing life has become firmly rooted in environmental activism, with two major projects taking centre stage. The most prominent is F1REST, an innovative initiative using art to shine a spotlight on vulnerable ecosystems across the globe.
On his website, the four-time world champion explained his mission: “I’m back in Brazil. Last year I’ve travelled here to see and discover the Amazon rainforest, meet the indigenous people. I was very welcomed to their home. I saw how beautiful it is and how diverse and rich it is, but I also saw how fragile it is and how urgent it is to protect it.”
“Now, this year, I’m coming back. And with F1REST – drawn together, I want all of us to draw a tree. All the drivers, fans, kids, old people, young people, people from different backgrounds. Everyone is invited to draw their very own tree and collecting them. And many trees make forests and make our beautiful diverse F1 forests.”
“That’s why I’m here and that’s what I’m trying to do. Trying to raise awareness only by seeing how rich and full of life these ecosystems are, we can start to care. And if we start to care, we can heal.”
Last month, Vettel appeared as a guest presenter at The Earthshot Prize 2025 ceremony held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was joined by football icon Cafu in a star-studded line-up.
Prince William also attended the event, where he enthusiastically participated in the F1REST project by painting his own tree and adding his signature to the artwork.
Another of Vettel’s projects, Buzzin’ Corner, was launched two years ago at the second turn of Japan’s legendary Suzuka circuit. The project focuses on constructing insect hotels to highlight the critical importance of biodiversity.
Working alongside the circuit management, Vettel ensured the inside kerbs were painted yellow and black to draw attention to the cause. Taking to Instagram, he explained: “There’s one special thing about this corner this weekend, the kerbs are painted in yellow and black. That’s unique because all the other kerbs, for example at the entrance of the corner, are painted in white and red.
“It’s very different and the reason for that is because together with Buzzin’ Corner we are racing for biodiversity. With this project I want to create awareness around the importance and subject of biodiversity.”
The former F1 champion’s Instagram feed is filled with environmental issues, constantly highlighting urgent ecological challenges. He recently flew over the Amazon at Piaraçu, exposing the devastating impact of illegal mining operations, which have torn through vast swathes of rainforest.
Vettel likened the scene to “having an inside to hell”. The flyover formed part of a broader social media push where he championed Amazon protection under the banner “Respect the Amazon” across multiple posts.
His latest efforts centre on the F1REST initiative, which has even seen fellow F1 drivers sketch their own trees for display in the FIA garage.
