Sebastian Vettel might return to top-level racing in 2024 if talks between him and Jota Porsche, a buyer workforce at present fielding a Porsche 963 LMDh within the World Endurance Championship, show fruitful.

In an interview with Motorsport.com printed final week, Sam Hignett, Jota’s workforce principal, mentioned the workforce has approached Vettel about becoming a member of the squad’s expanded two-car entry within the Hypercar class of the 2024 World Endurance Championship.

Hignett mentioned the talks have been solely at an early stage and no deal had been made.

“We’re chatting with Seb, there are discussions, however nothing is finished,” he mentioned. “There isn’t any type of contract signed and he actually hasn’t examined certainly one of our automobiles.”

Sebastian Vettel

Hignett additionally talked about that one other F1 champion, Jenson Button, can also be on the listing of potential drivers, as is former F1 driver and present LMP2 driver Robert Kubica.

He additionally mentioned the workforce is totally funded, thanks partially to a sponsorship take care of Hertz, and that it does not want so as to add a pay driver. Jota Porsche additionally has sponsorship from Singer which designed the gold livery for the squad’s 963.

Vettel retired from Components 1 on the finish of 2022, capping off a profession that noticed him amass 4 world championships, all of them with Purple Bull Racing. Throughout his profession, he additionally raced with BMW Sauber, Toro Rosso (at present AlphaTauri), Ferrari, and Aston Martin.

Coming into the Hypercar class of the World Endurance Championship would give him the possibility to win outright on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the celebrated race that serves as the primary occasion on the World Endurance Championship calendar. A win at Le Mans means Vettel could be a step nearer to reaching motorsports’ so-called Triple Crown which signifies wins on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Monaco Grand Prix, and Indianapolis 500—achieved to date solely by British driver Graham Hill. Presently Vettel solely has the win at Monaco.