Ralf Schumacher has indicated that Sebastian Vettel may be considering a return to Formula 1, suggesting that Vettel could potentially fill the void left by George Russell’s perceived lack of “charisma” as the leading figure in the Mercedes team.
Looking ahead to 2025, Mercedes faces a significant vacancy as their seven-time World Champion, Lewis Hamilton, has confirmed his move to Ferrari. With this impending departure, several drivers have been linked to the soon-to-be-open Mercedes seat.
Names circulating in discussions include Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon, and Mercedes’ promising junior driver, Andrea Kimi Antonelli. However, amidst these discussions, Vettel’s name has also emerged.
Vettel, a four-time World Champion, retired from Formula 1 after the 2022 season. Despite stepping away from the sport, he has kept the possibility of a return open.
At 36, Vettel is younger than F1 stalwarts like Alonso and Hamilton, making an eventual comeback plausible. The question, however, remains: does he possess the motivation?
According to fellow German racer Ralf Schumacher, the answer is affirmative. Schumacher believes that Vettel is indeed motivated to make a comeback, suggesting that age is not a barrier to Vettel’s potential return to the grid.
Schumacher said; “I’ve heard that Sebastian Vettel wants to drive again.”
“Of course, you have to close a gap now. You saw what happened on the stock market after Lewis Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari, that triggered something.”
Schumacher expresses his belief that Vettel could be the ideal candidate to fill the void left by Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes, casting doubt on Russell’s ability to rise to that challenge.
Hamilton is widely regarded as the most marketable driver in Formula 1 and holds numerous records for success in the sport. Schumacher questions whether Russell possesses the necessary “charisma” to assume the role of Mercedes’ leading marketing asset.
Instead, Schumacher suggests that Vettel, the four-time world champion at Red Bull could solve Mercedes’ dilemma.
“Whether George Russell has the charisma to replace Lewis Hamilton worldwide in terms of marketing or a Sebastian Vettel as a German driver at Mercedes, is probably a bit too big for him,” Schumacher opined.
Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, has addressed the speculation surrounding Vettel’s potential return to the team.
While acknowledging regular communication with Vettel, Wolff clarified that the discussions do not involve Vettel returning to Formula 1 with Mercedes.
In the aftermath of Hamilton’s shock, Ferrari’s move was announced. Wolff stated to media outlets, “I think he decided to not race anymore. We are talking on a regular basis. We also talked yesterday, but it wasn’t about driving for us in the future.”
