George Russell has offered his perspective on the possibility of Sebastian Vettel making a comeback to Formula 1, amid speculation linking the four-time Drivers’ champion to the vacant seat beside him at Mercedes.
Russell expressed his belief that Formula 1 is feeling the absence of Sebastian Vettel, as rumors swirl regarding the potential pairing of the German driver with him at Mercedes for the upcoming season.
Following Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari in 2025, the seat next to Russell at Mercedes has become one of the most fiercely contested positions in this year’s driver market.
Numerous names have been thrown into the ring as potential candidates for the Mercedes seat, including Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, F2 newcomer and Mercedes protege Kimi Antonelli, and even Max Verstappen, should he opt to depart from Red Bull.
However, in recent weeks, Vettel has emerged as a viable option worth considering. Despite being 36 years old, Vettel has shown interest in returning to Formula 1, acknowledging his occasional contemplation of the idea and confirming previous discussions with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
Reflecting on the prospect of Vettel joining him at Mercedes next season, Russell commented to the media, stating, “Sebastian’s a great person and he’s a four-time world champion.
“For sure, his personality is missed on the grid, and I think it’s important that we have the best 20 drivers in the world all competing for race wins and championships.”
Wolff acknowledged the potential return of Vettel to Formula 1 with Mercedes, emphasizing that Vettel is “someone you can never discount.”
Boasting four Drivers’ titles and 53 race victories, the German driver stands out as the most decorated candidate for the Brackley-based team, despite his retirement at the conclusion of the 2022 season.
However, amidst the plethora of names being tossed around as possible replacements for Hamilton, Russell remains unfazed.
“I’m really happy and open to have anybody as my teammate,” remarked the 26-year-old driver. “Whether it’s world champion, whether it’s a rookie, it doesn’t change how I go about my business. And as I said before, we’d welcome anybody.”
