Sebastian Vettel admitted he might be open to another role in Formula 1 in the future if he gets "bored" in retirement.
This season will be the German's last as a driver in F1. After 53 race victories and four world championship successes in a row between 2010 and 2013, he has decided to pursue other ventures and spend more time with his family at the age of 35.
But racing isn't his only role in F1 – he is also a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association. And, considering his passion about the environment and social justice, it has been suggested his talents could be used by F1 at the boardroom level to help the sport to evolve.
While he is not currently thinking about a future role in F1, Vettel did not close the door on the idea when asked about it. "I don't know at the moment – I'm not considering anything, because I'm stepping away," he told reporters.
"Time will tell what will be something that is possible to do – if there is an offer of any such nature or not – and then I will see how I feel like [in] the moment. I'm quite happy to spend more time on other things and I look forward to seeing the kids more and stuff like that. Then time will tell whether I get bored within three months or three years!"
Vettel has said he is open to continuing his racing career, but only in a less demanding series that would not take him away from his wife and children too much. His first post-retirement event, for example, has been confirmed as the Race of Champions at the end of January, where he will represent Team Germany.
Speaking shortly after the summer break, Vettel revealed he felt "liberated" a few weeks on from his retirement announcement. "I always tend to look forward to the next thing and I don't spend that much time looking back, so it has been less like the people around me expected it to be," he said.
"I received an overwhelming [amount of] congratulations and support after the announcement in Hungary. I find it difficult to reflect all these years in just a short time, so maybe it will hit me at some point later on. But I just enjoyed the break. The fact that the decision, or the fact that I was carrying this decision around with me for such a long time, it felt quite liberating."
Six races remain in his final F1 season – one which has yielded just 20 points amid Aston Martin's struggles to be as competitive as they would like. But team boss Mike Krack rubbished suggestions these final races form a "farewell tour" for the German, and insisted that it is business as usual until the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi.
