Formula 1 is constantly evolving, with changes designed to keep the sport exciting for both drivers and fans. But finding the right balance between innovation and what makes F1 special remains key. Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel has now offered his thoughts on what the sport could consider going forward. 

That tension between where F1 is headed and what made it special is really what Vettel is getting at. He's not against progress, and he's not asking for a return to the past. He's suggesting the sport doesn't have to choose. 

After he finished driving Michael Schumacher's 2002 Ferrari at the Italian Grand Prix, the four-time Formula One champion spoke to the media about the new regulations and striking a balance between the new and old.  

"One doesn't have to exclude the other," he said while speaking to the media, as reported by Motorsport.com. "I think we need to find practices with everything so we are able to combine things that we love." 

Further, when talking about the 2026 regulations, Vettel didn't hold back. 

"I'm probably not agreeing on everything that we currently have in the regulations from a driving point of view, but looking forward I think that's where there's a huge chance to take people on board."

It's a simple idea, but not an easy one to execute. Blending cutting-edge technology with the raw, visceral feel that made F1 legendary is easier said than done, especially with power units, aerodynamics, and race formats all changing at once. 

But if the sport manages to pull it off, Vettel's words might end up sounding less like a critique and more like a blueprint, proof that F1 doesn't have to leave its past behind to build its future. 

Sebastian Vettel  weighs in on Formula One’s use of sustainable fuel 

Sustainability has long been one of Vettel's core causes, and his enthusiasm hasn't faded now that F1 has caught up. 

The sport's shift to advanced sustainable fuels arrived after his own racing days ended, but the four-time champion remains excited about where it could lead, especially with a return to bigger, louder V8 engines expected by 2030 or 2031. 

While talking about sustainability in Formula One in the aforementioned interview, Sebastian Vettel spoke about how the sport could make use of sustainable fuels. 

"I think sustainable fuels are the step forward," Vettel said during the interview. "There's huge potential not just for Formula 1 but also to inspire other racing series." 

He believes the responsibility goes beyond performance. As F1 shapes its next generation of cars, Vettel wants the technology behind them to genuinely translate to road use, not just serve as an on-track showcase. 

"If you shape the next generation of car, there's a lot of potential to do so responsibly, because some things that may be incredible from a technology point of view might not be transferable to the streets." 

For Vettel, it all comes back to the same idea: progress and passion don't have to be at odds. As F1 looks ahead, his voice is a reminder that the sport can move forward without losing what made it special. 

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco