Vettel in WEC from 2024? German has proposal under consideration
General
- Sam Godber
Sebastian Vettel may continue his career in the WEC. Jota Sport is said to be interested in the services of the four-time F1 world champion who quit racing at the highest level after last season. Speaking to Auto, Motor und Sport himself, Vettel does not deny the reports.
Last week, a rumour surfaced that Britain's Jota Sport would like to offer Vettel the chance to test in an LMP2 car in mid-October in Spain. That test should be a prelude to a permanent tenure in long-distance racing. LMP2 will no longer exist next year, but Vettel should then enter the hypercar class in 2024.
The aforementioned German medium asked Vettel in Japan about the rumour: "Nothing has been signed or decided yet, but I have the matter in the back of my mind. I still have time to decide." So no definite 'yes' or 'no' yet from Vettel, but judging by the 36-year-old driver's answer, there does seem to be an actual offer on the table.
Jota has biggest plans
Jota wants to enter the 2024 WEC hypercar championship with two Porsche cars. The plan is to team up with an All-Star. Jenson Button is said to have already signed and negotiations are also under way with Robert Kubica. Sebastian Vettel would thus also be a candidate, as would Kimi Raikkonen. The Finnish former F1 driver's name was also dropped earlier this month.
The British team also has drivers such as António Félix da Costa and Will Stevens under contract. It is also possible that Vettel - if he accepts the offer - will form a trio with these drivers. Not much is known about the exact composition of the line-up at this stage (logically).
For Jota, it will be a matter of fits and starts anyway, as Button will also race in the American IMSA, in Tijmen van der Helm's team. Félix da Costa also races in Formula E, so these men cannot be at every WEC weekend, as the calendars of these two racing classes overlap. One thing is certain: if Vettel chooses Jota, at least he will be surrounded by good drivers.