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Sebastian Vettel admits to conversations with Toto Wolff, but will only return to the sport if offered the “full package”
Following the announcement of Lewis Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes, the paddock has been alive with speculation regarding his replacement. Shortly after the revelation, Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff sent the rumour mill into overdrive after disclosing his conversations with four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.
During his time at Ferrari, Vettel was often linked to a potential move to the Silver Arrows. But the collaboration never came to fruition.
As Formula One embarks on its second season without Vettel, the German is currently back on the press circuit. This time, he’s promoting Perple, a new energy drink, for which he has become an ambassador. While on the Chris Moyles Show, Vettel was asked about his decision to retire. He responded:
“I’ve been racing my entire life, so it was a big decision. And it’s been in my head for a while.”
Vettel went on to reveal that he first thought of retiring in 2019. However, his decision to retire in 2022 was one he took for himself and his family.
The four-time world champion is a much-missed member of the paddock. When asked whether he would return to the sport if given “the right car,” the German responded:
“Of course, the better the car, the better the team, the more exciting it is in terms of having the prospect of being successful. But like I just said, I’m following the sport. I see what’s going on and it might be appealing and interesting, but it really depends on the full package.”
He continued, “To seriously consider [returning], I think it would very much depend on the package. From an age point of view, I feel bloody young with the guys that I raced with still hanging around and signing big contracts, staying around for longer. It seems like I could have another 10 years in the sport.”
Could Vettel replace Hamilton at Mercedes?
During an interview with Sky Sports, the subject of Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes was brought up. Vettel was asked whether he could be tempted to return to the sport, with a seat vacant at Mercedes. He responded:
“There is bits that do excite me, of course, when I think about it. But there is also bits that don’t.”
When asked if he had been approached by a team, Vettel remained coy, “I’m talking to a lot of people, because I know them.”
Although he did confirm “I’m speaking to Toto [Wolff], I don’t know if that qualifies as Mercedes, about other things. There are ideas that I have, [and] events that I’m planning going forward. So, I did speak to a lot of other team principals as well, and not only about racing.”
He concluded, “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 that I have.”
The PERFECT answer from Sebastian Vettel regarding @KayBurley ‘s question on the Horner drama – many could learn from this. #SV5 #RedBull #F1 #JapaneseGP
— FormulaNerds ?? (@Formula_Nerds) April 3, 2024
The subject of the available seat at the Silver Arrows was also brought up during an interview with Sky Sports F1. Again, Vettel confirmed having conversations with Wolff but only about the “situation” and “not really about the seat.” However, he went on to elaborate:
“I don’t know, it has to be a couple more phone calls and conversations I guess to really find out a little bit more. But, for sure, it is one of the best cockpits or best seats on the grid. I think performance-wise Mercedes has a great track record, struggling a little bit in the last [few] years. But then ‘struggle’ you’re still second or third in the constructors’ it’s not like you are racing in no-man’s land.”
While Vettel appears very happy in retirement, could the vacant seat at Mercedes be enough to tempt him to return to the race track?
Feature Image Credit: @F1 on X