Here’s what you need to know about the man who won people over as a fledging driver and media darling who loved to joke with both fans and the press alike.

Is Sebastian Vettel really going to make a comeback?

He was just 35 when he announced his retirement from racing – which came as a shock to the F1 world – but hasn’t dismissed a potential return to motorsport, sparking speculation that a comeback could well be on the cards.

Vettel, who won four F1 Drivers’ World Championship titles and 53 Grand Prix titles across race-level categories, commented on his possible return, “Of course you think about it and flirt with it,” according to F1i.

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Last September, Motors Inside quoted Vettel as saying, “I cannot say no to a comeback, but it will surely depend on a new challenge.”

Post retirement, Vettel has invested into the co-ownership of the German SailGP team. He has also partnered with sustainability projects, including setting up insect hotels to highlight the need for biodiversity ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix in September 2023 and supporting climate change initiatives, such as pushing for the F1 to use more sustainable fuels, which he spoke about at the UK’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in July 2023.

Who are Sebastian Vettel’s wife and kids?

When he announced his retirement in 2022, Vettel did not offer much insight into what influenced his decision. He later opened up about his choice, explaining that he did not want to miss any more moments with his children. Per Sports Illustrated, in August 2023, he said, “My children are entitled to me being there for them more often. I have distanced myself from a world I used to love so much.”

Vettel went on to describe how tough the decision was, speaking about some of what he loves most in the sport: “I enjoyed the driving, the competition, until the last moment. When you only have one attempt left in qualifying and then have to do it and the duels during races; those are the moments I miss the most.”

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The racing king has three children with his wife and childhood friend Hanna Prater. The pair tied the knot in a private ceremony in 2019. Vettel and Prater have chosen to keep their children away from the spotlight.

Prater, who reportedly previously worked for Look Magazine and s.Oliver fashion house, quit her job after marrying Vettel to focus on being a full time mum and wife.

What is Sebastian Vettel’s net worth?

Vettel has an estimated net worth of US$140 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Back in 2020, Forbes reported that he was making around US$40 million a year just from racing. Some of his lucrative endorsement deals have been with brands such as Casio, Tirendo (a tyre company), Pepe Jeans and a special Vettel model for car-maker Infiniti.

Sebastian Vettel was interested in racing from a young age

While retiring at 35 may seem young to some, it was the perfect age for Vettel, whose love for motorsports began from when he was a toddler. He started karting at three and, by the time he was seven, he was taking part in races across Germany and Europe, per the Formula One website.

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Vettel’s family enrolled him in the Red Bull young driver training programme, where he got the chance to focus on his skills with the help of professionals at age 12.

When he was 19, he was selected as a test driver for the BMW Sauber F1 team and even moved to a village near the team’s Switzerland-based headquarters. In 2007, he made his Formula One race debut at the US Grand Prix in Indianapolis, where he finished eighth, making him the youngest driver to score a championship point. This was the start of the famous career of his that saw him win those 53 Grands Prix titles, undoubtedly making him one of the best drivers in the history of F1.