F1 News: Toto Wolff Answers Questions On Sebastian Vettel To Mercedes
Toto Wolff, the team principal of Mercedes, has clarified Mercedes' position regarding the potential return of former F1 driver Sebastian Vettel to the sport as Lewis Hamilton's replacement for the 2025 season.
After leaving Ferrari in 2020, Vettel competed with Aston Martin for two seasons, contending with midfield challenges before retiring from Formula 1. He has expressed that only a significant "challenge" could entice him to consider coming out of retirement for full-time racing again.
With Hamilton's move to Ferrari next year, there is speculation that Vettel might find a chance for a Formula 1 comeback with Mercedes. As per a report by La Gazzetta dello Sport, the four-time world champion expressed his wish to return to Formula 1.
The report also indicates that Vettel has been in touch with Audi, which will fully acquire Sauber in 2026 to join as a works manufacturer. Considering Vettel's exploration of potential options, the prospect of driving for Mercedes, which secured a title as recently as 2021, could be an option worth considering for him.
Wolff on the other hand, revealed that he has been in regular touch with Vettel, making it easy for people to connect the dots. But clarifying further, he stated that the discussions weren't about Vettel's return to Mercedes. He told the German outlet auto-motor-und-sport.de:
“I think he made the decision to not race anymore.
“We are talking on a regular basis. We’ve also talked yesterday, but it wasn’t about driving for us in the future.”
With the prospect of Vettel ruled out, Wolff added that George Russell has the potential to be a "lead driver" for Mercedes, and as a result, he does not intend to make haste in choosing Hamilton's replacement. He added:
“With all the Lewis discussion something that has not been talked enough is George.
“George has the potential to be the next lead driver in the team, he’s of the generation of Lando [Norris] and [Charles] Leclerc and some of the others, and I couldn’t wish for a new team leader when Lewis leaves, no doubt about that, so we have such a solid foundation such a, quick and talented and intelligent guy in the car that we just need to take the right choice for the second driver, the second seat. That’s not something I want to be rushed in.”
