Inside Sebastian Vettel’s life now as he hangs out with Prince William | F1 | Sport

Sebastian Vettel’s potential return to F1 has reportedly been ruled out by Red Bull. The sporting icon retired in 2022 and had been linked with a stunning return to the sport when Helmut Marko was axed by the team after they failed to win the Drivers’ Championship. McLaren driver Lando Norris secured the victory despite Max Verstappen aiming to pick up a fifth consecutive title.

Being a fan favourite at Red Bull during his time as a driver, along with the fact he’s open to a career in management, he appeared to be in prime position to take over from Marko. Despite this, according to BILD, there will be no dream return for Vettel with no plans in place to fill the position just yet.

Since he called it a day, Vettel has stayed involved in the sport but has used his platform to champion new initiatives regarding environmental causes. In an interview with Sky Sports F1 at the Sao Paolo Grand Prix, he touched on a potential comeback.

« 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. »

With regards to those environmental initiatives, Vettel’s current life is centred around two major projects. The first is F1REST, one that is focused on using drawings to raise awareness for ecosystems that need protecting.

On his website, Vettel says: « I’m back in Brazil. Last year I’ve traveled 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. »

Vettel was a guest presenter at the The Earthshot Prize 2025 ceremony in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Football legend Cafu also joined Vettel on the guest lineup last month.

Also joining him there was Prince William, who even took the opportunity to paint a tree for the new F1REST project and sign the paper afterwards.

Vettel’s second venture is called Buzzin’ Corner. It was created two years ago at turn two of Japan’s Suzuka circuit, building insect hotels to help raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity.

He also worked with the circuit to include yellow and black paint on the inside corner to further emphasise the initiative. He said on Instagram: « 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. »

Vettel’s Instagram account is dominated by his concerns for the planet’s ecoystems, drawing attention constantly to big issues that need solutions. For example, he completed a flyover of the Amazon at Piaraçu, highlighting how much damage that illegal mining had made on the area, flattening the Amazon jungle in its path. He described it like « having an inside to hell ».

This was part of a social media campaign where he highlighted the problems around the Amazon, using the slogan « Respect the Amazon » in a series of posts.

His most recent posts have been focused on the new F1REST project, even getting F1 drivers to draw their own trees and display them inside the FIA garage.