Vettel not top of Mercedes' driver line-up options for 2021 - Wolff
Vettel not top of Mercedes' driver line-up options for 2021 - Wolff
Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff is adamant Sebastian Vettel is not top of his agenda as he contemplates his Formula 1 driver line-up for 2021.
With Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas out of contract at the end of the year, there is a potential vacancy at Mercedes for four-time champion Vettel.
It is widely expected Hamilton will sign a new contract, with Wolff conceding last week he and the 35-year-old are currently "in a good place".
While Bottas' seat is most likely the one up for grabs, Wolff is also mindful of another of his contracted drivers waiting in the wings for his chance in George Russell, currently in the second season of a three-year deal with Williams.
Acknowledging "a German driver in a German car is a good marketing story", speaking to Austrian television station ORF, Wolff added: "We have a driver squad and we have always been loyal in the first place, evaluating first of all whether our current drivers stay with us or not.
"Then, of course, there is the question of the juniors. You can see that Red Bull with [Max] Verstappen, Ferrari with [Charles] Leclerc, McLaren also with [Lando] Norris, Renault with [Esteban] Ocon, have all signed a junior who could possibly belong to the new generation of stars in the future.
"That's why it's a question of what we do with George Russell. He is an option. And then there is also Sebastian Vettel. But I would say he is not top of the agenda because we have to focus on our own driver squad."
Wolff is also wary of rushing into making an announcement, as Ferrari and McLaren have done in signing Carlos Sainz and Daniel Ricciardo before this season has started.
"We’re certainly not putting ourselves in that position," said Wolff.
"It’s difficult to manage when you have a driver with you one year who will be in a rival team next year. What do you do with regard to innovation and learning when you know that driver can use it against you next year?
“The teams that have hastily announced things are in a difficult situation we don’t want to get into.”
Before you go...
Horner rules out Verstappen/Vettel "alpha male" partnership
"Detoxed" Alonso "motivated" again to return to Formula 1
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Newey Red Bull exit details confirmed as Ferrari make dramatic unveiling - GPFans F1 Recap
- 3 hours ago
Award-winning director reveals STUNNING tribute to F1 legend Senna
- Yesterday 22:57
Ferrari fans BEG for Newey after team reveal shock change
- Yesterday 21:57
Newey manager hints at Red Bull legend's SHOCK next move after exit
- Yesterday 20:57
Ecclestone ATTACKS Hamilton 'ego' after Ferrari move
- Yesterday 19:57
- 1
Newey and Hamilton could enjoy stunning title REPEAT after F1 guru's Red Bull exit
- Yesterday 18:58
Related news
Hamilton and Wolff centre stage as F1 shuts down New York for new emoji launch
F1 wonderkid in Imola TEST amid driver replacement reports
Mercedes reveal shock RED livery to celebrate historic milestone
Verstappen 'to meet Mercedes over SHOCK 2025 move as Red Bull exit clause revealed'
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860