Ricciardo, Magnussen, Grosjean, and Vettel — Is There Still Room for F1 Veterans?

By Shazmeen Navrange

Old is gold, and in Formula 1, the saying still holds relevance. Drivers who have left the paddock, whether on good terms or under unfortunate circumstances, left their lasting impression on the sport and helped it shape it into what it is today. Leave championship titles aside; their bravery, resilience, and flashes of brilliance will forever be remembered.

However, the sport alone doesn’t entirely rely on nostalgia and experience. While Formula 1 continues to invest heavily in rising talent, it has not entirely turned its back on veterans either. Realistically, there are conditions attached to their return. The sport runs on speed, consistency, results, and performance, along with, at times, a driver’s commercial appeal to attract sponsorship and justify a seat.

Veteran drivers can indeed bring a lot of value to a team through experience that helps improve team and car performance, yet that alone is not always enough. In the ever-evolving Formula 1 scene, with the new rules and regulations in place with passing years, only a select few can realistically be accommodated. As much as fans may wish to see their favourite old-timers return, the sport ultimately operates in the best interest of those who bring strategic benefit and meet present expectations, without requiring heavy investment.

In this piece, we look at whether a return for Daniel Ricciardo, Kevin Magnussen, Romain Grosjean, and Sebastian Vettel is possible by answering two main questions: whether there is room for them and whether they have any plans to return.

Daniel Ricciardo
Ricciardo’s Formula 1 career concluded after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix due to performance issues. While some teams may be willing to take a risk on an experienced driver like him and offer another chance to unlock underestimated potential, others might not be that open and would rather invest in rookies for long-term returns, cost efficiency, and adaptability. In either case, his return at the moment seems slim, especially given that he has moved on.

While many fans still hope to see him break the “prince who never became the king” label, Ricciardo’s Formula 1 journey now appears to be over. Although early rumours linked him to a potential move to Cadillac, he ultimately shut them down, confirming his F1 retirement. On a positive note, he has since taken on a new role as a global ambassador for Ford Racing.

Kevin Magnussen
Magnussen has been one of the fortunate drivers who received a second chance, returning to the grid in 2022 after being dropped by Haas in 2020. However, he was let go again in 2024 due to inconsistency in delivering results, and also at the time, the team decided to move into a new direction to bring fresh faces onto the grid.

That said, his experience allowed him to remain connected to Haas beyond his contract termination, as he participated in driving at some TPC events. Even after that, team principal Ayao Komatsu has previously expressed hopes of maintaining a good working relationship with him and to keep finding ways to collaborate. While there is a possibility that he could work with Haas again in some other capacity, a return to the grid seems slim, especially as he has moved on to become a factory driver at BMW M Motorsport.

Romain Grosjean
Grosjean survived a horrific crash at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, and since then, his life has not been the same. After recovering from severe burns and injuries, he had the chance to return but ultimately refused to continue his Formula 1 journey.

However, he did make an emotional return at the Mugello circuit during a Haas TPC session, sporting a helmet designed by his children for the Abu Dhabi 2020 Grand Prix, which he was never able to race due to the crash. Despite that moment, an official return to the grid at any point in the future seems unlikely, as Grosjean has now found his footing in the IndyCar Series.

Sebastian Vettel
The four-time world champion, through his wealth of experience with leading teams like Red  Bull and Scuderia Ferrari, played a key role during his tenure at Aston Martin. He offered valuable feedback on car development and engineering direction. Despite having a two-year deal with the team and the opportunity to stay on for a third year, he ultimately chose to step away due to the team’s lack of competitiveness and the car’s failure to deliver desired results.

While the decision to retire was difficult, Vettel left the sport to spend more time with his family. However, he has not completely closed the door on a return. He recently expressed his thoughts on the possibility of coming back at the “right opportunity,” though in what capacity remains unknown. For now, only time will tell, and all fans can do is keep hope alive.