Lewis Hamilton's bitter F1 rival holds talks with Mercedes about replacing him

03 April 2024 , 11:55

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Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton during Vettel's F1 time with Ferrari (Image: Getty Images)

Sebastian Vettel has hinted he could make a Formula One comeback to replace Lewis Hamilton - after revealing he's held talks with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.

Mercedes are searching for a new driver for 2025 and beyond after Hamilton announced in February he was quitting for Ferrari. Vettel, who won his four drivers’ titles with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013, left F1 at the end of the 2022 campaign after six years at Ferrari and two with Aston Martin.

Now, though, the 36-year-old has suggested he could return to the sport after speaking to a number of team bosses up and down the paddock.

“I am speaking to Toto. I don’t know if that qualifies as Mercedes, but about other things,” the German told Sky Sports News. “I’m talking to a lot of people because I know them, but not very specific. I mean obviously it does cross my mind, I do think about it, but it’s not the main thought.

“I have three kids at home, it’s busy every day, so there’s a lot of other thoughts I have. There’s ideas that I have. Events that I’m planning going forwards, so I did speak to a lot of other team principals as well, and not only about racing. There’s thoughts, but nothing concrete at the minute.”

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A seat at a top team could help Vettel make a decision to return to the grid and he admits he was caught out by Hamilton’s decision to swap Mercedes for Ferrari after winning six world championships with the team.

“I was surprised, like I guess most of us were,” he said. “But it is exciting. Obviously he’s looking for a new challenge and it will be different to see him in red, in a different colour.”

Sebastian Vettel has been asked again about his Formula 1 future (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Vettel has been testing a different kind of race car having spent time in the Porsche contender for the Le Mans 24 Hours.

“Maybe, I don’t know yet,” he replied when asked if he could make his first appearance in the famous endurance race this year. “I’ve been testing. I was curious, so I wanted to see how it feels. It’s obviously a different discipline. It’s still racing, but it’s a different car, different discipline.

“I am (tempted) and I’m not. I am obviously also looking for lots of other things and there’s lots of other things that do interest me outside of racing.”

Mark Mann-Bryans