Sebastian Vettel Confirms Exchanging Texts with Toto Wolff Amid Rumors of Return to Replace Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes has an empty seat to fill and Toto Wolff has a decision to make. Who will Toto Wolff bring in to replace Lewis Hamilton is something all fans are wondering about. Currently, many rumors are flying around the Formula 1 community, and many speculations as to who will drive for Mercedes are out.

Among the speculated drivers is Sebastian Vettel who is expected to come out of his retirement to drive for the Silver Arrows. This seems like a move that makes sense, as replacing Lewis Hamilton for anything lesser than a world champion would not do justice to the team. That being said, the German driver has opened up about his talks with Toto Wolff but left fans hanging in excitement by not confirming his return.

Will Sebastian Vettel pull a U-turn on retirement?

Sebastian Vettel was recently having a word with the Swiss news portal Neue Zurcher Zeitung, where he spoke about his retirement plans. Upon being asked about the Lewis Hamilton news, he said, “I was surprised by this change.” Bringing the topic to if Vettel received calls from Mercedes to join the team, he said, “Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff didn’t call me, but we briefly exchanged text messages.”

The 4-time world champion said, “But so far it’s not an issue for me, also because at 36 I still have all the time in the world. So it doesn’t go away. But my signs haven’t changed.” Sebastian Vettel has achieved quite a bit in his career and while fans expect him to attempt his 5th world championship, the driver stated, “I think that I have learned and understood a lot in this one year without racing, including about myself.”

Read More – F1 News: Toto Wolff on Sebastian Vettel Joining Mercedes: “He Still Has Speed”; Doesn’t Rule Out Veteran’s Grand Return

After taking his time away from racing, Sebastian Vettel reflected on himself, saying, “Being on the other side had a big impact on me; a lot of questions came up. So far there is no active project.” Vettel’s answer must have disappointed fans, but knowing that the two parties are in contact gives enough hope for a return.

Why did Sebastian Vettel retire in the first place?

2022 was the last year that the German world champion raced in Formula 1. There are many reasons why Vettel stopped racing but the main one being how much of his personal life was affected by the sport. The driver mentioned that he didn’t quit because he didn’t like the sport anymore, but more due to wanting to spend time with his family.

Although he has avoided interviews since he retired, in a conversation with Sports Illustrated, he said, “It was a combination of factors: the many races, the amount of effort it takes to do the job properly in my opinion. At the same time, I have small children at home. That time is not coming back.” Formula 1 takes up a driver’s time by having them on the road for 9 months in a year.

Read More – Yuki Tsunoda Reveals “Strange” Experience With Daniel Ricciardo Amid Fight for Red Bull Seat

Raising a family takes time and commitment, and now the world champion wants to make sure he is there for the young years of his kids. Although he mentioned missing the sport, he is happy with his retirement. However, a return could be sparked with enough incentives motivationally, and at 36, the driver has a few years before he won’t be able to return to the wheel. That being said, do you think Vettel will return to give Lewis Hamilton a run for his money one last time? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.