Signing Vettel "fraught with...bear traps" - Mercedes

Mercedes technical director James Allison believes there would likely be more risk than reward if the Formula 1 team opted to sign Sebastian Vettel.

Following the announcement Vettel would be leaving Ferrari at the end of this season, the four-time F1 champion was linked with a move to Mercedes, with motorsport boss Toto Wolff describing the 33-year-old as an "asset" he could not ignore.

Mercedes has since distanced itself from recruiting Vettel, with the team certain to retain its current line-up of reigning champion Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.

Asked as to why Mercedes was not looking at a driver of Vettel's calibre, Allison made clear the Hamilton/Bottas partnership was an extremely positive one for the team, and that bringing in the German would likely create pitfalls.

"Toto has answered this question on a number of occasions, but if I can concentrate on our own line-up," asserted Allison.

"Why would we wish to move away from a line-up that has produced such strong results?

"[There is] a respect across the garage between our two drivers that has been evident for all to see and a level of performance from both men that I think many people up and down the pit lane would envy.

"Why would we want to step away from something that is clearly working and try something else, which is fraught with, yes, maybe some opportunity, but also lots of bear traps in it, too?"

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