Mercedes could be looking to sign Sebastian Vettel as the replacement for a soon-to-be retiring Lewis Hamilton, that is a conclusion that can be drawn from a number of recent reports.
Currently, Vettel is not signed to a team for 2018 with his Ferrari contract set to expire and speculation continues to link him to Mercedes despite the Scuderia’s improved performance this year.
The Italian team is keen to secure his services for the future, with President Sergio Marchionne saying in Austria the decision stood with the four-time world champion and now French publication Auto Hebdo is reporting a three-year contract offer worth 40 million Euros per season has been made.
Potentially adding to the pot, however, is the revelation Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was present at Vettel’s 30th birthday party on the same day as the FIA hearing into the Baku clash, suggesting the two men are on good terms.
“I think the situation in the drivers market depends on Sebastian Vettel,” Red Bull boss Christian Horner said having a stir.
“I would think he’s got Toto in his ear saying ‘extend for a year (at Ferrari)’ and then he’s probably got Ferrari saying ‘it’s three years or nothing’.”
As for the Hamilton retirement aspect to this, that comes from comments he made after winning the British Grand Prix on Sunday for the fifth time.
“I can’t really say what’s going to happen six months from now, except to say I am loving racing. I don’t know what is going to happen,” he was quoted by the Express as saying about his future.
“I love driving and you could say it’s unlikely, but you can’t say what frame of mind I will be in at Christmas. Hopefully, it will be really good. Even getting another championship, it won’t be a case of hanging up my gloves. I will always want to get more, even when I do stop. Right now I’m just focused on getting that fourth.
“I am loving racing,” he continued, “and I am driving better than I have ever driven. I have said that in the past, perhaps with less conviction, but within myself, I know that right now I am at my best and I want to stay there.”
With the door open then to the now 32-year-old leaving F1 either this year or the end of 2018, it would fit into Horner’s suggestion of a single year Ferrari extension with Kimi Raikkonen alongside, per the desire of the German, and the increasing likelihood of Valtteri Bottas being retained at Mercedes.
“It is almost a no-brainer,” Wolff said about keeping the Finn during the weekend at Silverstone.
“I would just like to put the puzzle together, it is not only about 2018. It is about looking forward in 2019 and 2020. There are some opportunities and after Budapest, l will contemplate what is right and wrong for the team.”
To be clear, none of this is concrete, it is simply a conclusion drawn from several reports but it would make sense given a potential Hamilton/ Vettel line-up at Mercedes is highly unlikely, particularly as they currently battle for the championship.
But, if there’s one driver currently in a position to negotiate their future and worthy of filling a seat left by Lewis, that driver’s name would be Sebastian Vettel.
