Mercedes is facing a difficult situation after Lewis Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari in 2025. The team now needs to find a suitable replacement for the seven-time world champion. One of the rumored contenders is 17-year-old Kimi Antonelli. Toto Wolff, the team boss, has once again addressed the possibility of Sebastian Vettel taking Hamilton’s place.
Earlier, there were rumors of Vettel making a comeback to F1 and joining Mercedes. The German driver had retired from the sport in 2022. However, Toto Wolff had previously dismissed this idea, stating that Vettel was done with F1. Vettel himself recently commented on the rumors, stating that he was not in a hurry to return but did not completely rule out a comeback.
Wolff has recently praised Sebastian Vettel, acknowledging him as a great person and one of the biggest names in F1. He also hinted that Vettel still had the speed to compete in the sport.
However, the decision on Hamilton’s replacement will take some time. Wolff mentioned a timeframe of three to four races before the team makes a final decision. Mercedes is considering both young and experienced drivers for the role, with the possibility of a short-term solution to allow someone like Antonelli to gain experience.
Sebastian Vettel, despite a few challenging seasons towards the end of his career, remains one of the best F1 drivers in history. His experience could greatly benefit Mercedes as the team faces challenges in the ground-effect era of the sport.
Vettel’s brother has claimed that the four-time world champion is eager to race again, with rumors of him potentially joining Team Jota-Porsche in Le Mans in 2024. However, no concrete agreement has been reached between the parties.
Mercedes still has time to consider Sebastian Vettel as a replacement for Lewis Hamilton. If they can convince him to come out of retirement, the 36-year-old would be a valuable addition to the Silver Arrows. Fans around the world would eagerly anticipate Vettel’s comeback to the pinnacle of motorsport.