F1 Roundup: Vettel considers return to racing, Hamilton criticizes Mercedes strategy, and FIA satisfied with Perez loophole

Four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel is reportedly considering a “concrete” offer to join the World Endurance Championship next season with Jota’s British Hypercar team.

Vettel retired from F1 last year but admitted he may return to racing at some point.

According to AMuS, Vettel has an enticing proposal on the table to drive Jota’s Porsche 963 in WEC’s top class.

The offer would see Vettel join fellow legends Robert Kubica and Jenson Button in a star-studded lineup.

Kubica and Button have also held talks with Jota about 2023 seats.

“Nothing has been signed or decided yet, but I have the matter in the back of my mind,” Vettel stated.

“If at some point I conclude that it doesn’t work without racing, then I will drive again.”

A Porsche LMP2 test may be arranged soon for Vettel to evaluate the opportunity.

Hamilton questions Mercedes strategy in Japan

Lewis Hamilton questioned Mercedes’ late-race instructions during the Japanese Grand Prix to slow down and keep George Russell in DRS range.

With Carlos Sainz fast approaching, Mercedes ordered Hamilton to reduce his gap to Russell to within 0.8s, granting DRS and supposedly helping Russell defend.

"I don’t think that was a good idea at all,” explained Hamilton, feeling he should’ve built a larger gap to Sainz.

"I needed to get as far clear ahead as possible."

Hamilton added that preserving constructors’ points was paramount, so he should’ve cleared Russell sooner.

“We should have swapped around earlier and I should have got as far ahead as possible to keep the gap as big as I could to the Ferrari.”

The debatable strategy capped off an aggressive wheel-to-wheel duel between the Mercedes teammates.

Hamilton admitted he raced firmly with Russell but didn’t overstep.

FIA has no plans to close Perez's penalty loophole

The FIA won’t revise regulations to prevent Red Bull’s clever exploitation of a penalty loophole with Sergio Perez in Japan.

Perez retired his damaged car without serving a time penalty.

To avoid a grid drop in Qatar, Red Bull restarted Perez’s car 25 laps later solely to serve the penalty before retiring again.

Some speculated the FIA would quickly close this loophole.

However, the FIA are satisfied with the current wording, which permits uncompetitive cars to rejoin provided they're safe.

Red Bull didn’t break parc ferme or normal rules by sending back its legal car.

The FIA have no grounds to rapidly change regulations over this reasonable decision. Red Bull astutely played by the rules to dodge a penalty.