Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admits that Sebastian Vettel is “someone that you can never discount” as a potential option for the team’s vacant 2025 Formula 1 position.
Vettel elected to retire at the end of 2022 due to his desire to spend more time with his close ones and the sport’s discord with his ardent views on being sustainable.
However, Vettel, who won four successive Drivers’ titles with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013, has been tipped to replicate Fernando Alonso and complete a comeback.
The German has conducted several interviews across the past week in which he stated that he has contemplated an F1 return dependent on the opportunities available.
Meanwhile, Vettel also divulged that he had been in contact with his long-time confidant and Mercedes chief Wolff since the news Lewis Hamilton would depart the team.
Hamilton, who will head to Ferrari in 2025, claimed that he would “love” for Vettel to replace him, citing that his illustrious experience would make him “an amazing choice”.
Speaking at the Japanese Grand Prix, Wolff confirmed that Vettel is “flirting with the idea of racing again” and would not rule out the chances
“Sebastian is someone that you can never discount,” Wolff responded when asked whether Vettel was under realistic consideration to partner George Russell next season.
“I think his track record is phenomenal and sometimes maybe taking a break is also good to reevaluate what’s important for you and re-find your motivation.”
Wolff has outlined that Max Verstappen is his number one target in the event that the palpable tension inside Red Bull sees the reigning champion become available.
Amid Australian Grand Prix victor Carlos Sainz noting he wants to “speed up” talks on securing his F1 future, Wolff has hinted that movement could be on the cards.
“As I said before, we haven’t taken a decision yet and it’s not something we plan to do in the next few weeks,” he continued. “I know that the driver market is very dynamic.
“Some of the really good guys are about to sign for some of the other teams, and we want to continue to have these discussions and keep the options open.
“But at that stage, I think it’s much too early for us to commit to a driver, whether very young or whether very experienced – I don’t want to say old, very experienced.
“[So] the next few months will give us more clues.”
Along with Verstappen, Wolff has teased that Mercedes protege Andrea Kimi Antonelli, competing in Formula 2, Sainz and Fernando Alonso are under consideration.
Asked whether the German marque had now reached a point where it had whittled down the candidates into a shortlist, the Austrian answered: “Yes.”
Vettel had been touted to slot in alongside Hamilton and form a blockbuster line-up at Mercedes when it was announced his Ferrari deal would not be renewed for 2020.
Back then, Wolff mentioned that he wouldn’t disregard Vettel from discussions until the incumbent Valtteri Bottas revealed that such reports had been rubbished to him.
Instead, Vettel was signed to spearhead Aston Martin’s F1 venture, which resulted in one podium and consecutive seventh-place finishes in the Constructors’ Championship.
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