Mercedes has an empty seat and everyone is wondering who will replace Lewis Hamilton. Max Verstappen became a name that could sign with the Silver Arrows based on the Red Bull situation preceding the first race. However, that’s not the only prospect in Toto Wolff’s mind.
Sebastian Vettel has been rumored to be the preferred driver for Mercedes as a seasoned replacement for Lewis Hamilton. This would not only be a strong answer to Ferrari by bringing in another world champion. But let’s not forget that Vettel is currently retired and according to Hans-Joachim Stuck, the vacant Mercedes seat is a perfect opportunity for the German driver to make his return.
Will Mercedes bring Sebastian Vettel out of retirement?
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Stuck sure thinks so. Despite the rumors of Max Verstappen joining the Brackley team, the Le Mans legend believes that Vettel will come out of retirement to fill the seat. Initially, things looked bad for Toto Wolff, but the situation is turning around. F1maximaal reported Stuck’s say on the matter. According to him, “Sebastian Vettel will drive for Mercedes next year.”
Explaining what Vettel has been up to, Stuck said, “He is bored and has one more chance to drive for a great team. In my opinion, Vettel will definitely drive for Mercedes,” Having Vettel in the team would be better according to Stuck as he said, “Verstappen would be incredibly stupid if he did that (move to Mercedes). “
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Although Verstappen is a hot topic right now, according to the 73-year-old, he should stick with Red Bull. Despite all the turmoil with the Christian Horner situation, Stuck believes that the Red Bull driver will continue to drive for the team. This leaves Toto Wolff the option of Vettel who will be a retired, but an available driver who might just have some drive left in him. But while bringing him out of retirement sounds like a good idea, the question stands: are Mercedes and Vettel ready for each other?
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How will Sebastian Vettel fare on the grid in a Mercedes?
Currently, the two drivers at Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, haven’t been having a great time with the cars. Mercedes was ahead of the grid for several years but recently has lost their edge. Although they stood second last year, Hamilton was not happy with the car and decided to make a move to Ferrari.
During the first race in 2024, Mercedes looked like it was struggling to keep up with Ferrari, and even Lando Norris’ McLaren crossed him. However, if Vettel is joining the team, it will be in 2025, which might bring an upgrade to the current car. But will it be enough to compete with Red Bull with the pace they are moving at? That is something to be seen if events transpire accordingly.
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Having Sebastian Vettel back on the grid will be great news for many fans of the sport, as his presence is already missed. Many believe there is still a lot of drive left in the 36-year-old and would love to see him make a comeback. Ferrari took the lead on both the Mercedes cars at the Bahrain Grand Prix, and now the question stands, will Vettel be a better fit in Mercedes than Hamilton currently is?