Toto Wolff and Sebastian Vettel share a joke together — Photo: © IMAGO

Latest F1 News

Wolff reveals Vettel talks amid F1 return rumours

The Mercedes man is looking for a replacement for Lewis Hamilton

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Friday 2 February 2024 20:12

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has said that he and Sebastian Vettel talk 'on a regular basis', although refused to get drawn on rumours linking the German with a stunning return to Formula 1.

Vettel retired from the sport back in 2022, after suffering two seasons of lower-midfield running with the Aston Martin team.

The four-time champion's decision came as somewhat of a shock, particularly as he is three years younger than Lewis Hamilton and six years younger than F1 stalwart Fernando Alonso.

Article continues under video

Hamilton also recently shocked the F1 world, when he decided to ditch the Mercedes team with whom he has won six of his seven world championship titles and join Ferrari from 2025.

This was despite the 39-year-old only signing a new contract with the Brackley-based team just five months ago.

It means that he will follow in the footsteps of the likes of Vettel and Michael Schumacher in driving for the most successful team in F1 history.

Lewis Hamilton will replace Carlos Sainz at Ferrari in 2025

The services of Lewis Hamilton have been poached by Ferrari for the 2025 season and beyond

Toto Wolff shares a good relationship with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton

Vettel in the running for Mercedes

Now, Italian publication Gazzetta are tipping Vettel to return in 2025, and take Hamilton's now vacant seat at Mercedes.

They state that Vettel was close to a move in 2020 when he was dropped by Ferrari, but that talks with his good friend Wolff ultimately came to nothing, and that the 36-year-old German may want to get back onto the F1 grid in the future.

Despite this, Wolff seemed to quash any such rumours of a stunning Vettel return, telling AMUS earlier this week:

"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."

Lewis Hamilton Ferrari Mercedes Aston Martin Toto Wolff Fernando Alonso