Lewis Hamilton makes feelings clear on Sebastian Vettel replacing him at Mercedes | F1 | Sport

Lewis Hamilton has admitted that he would ‘love it’ if Sebastian Vettel came out of retirement to replace him at Mercedes for the 2025 Formula One season. The Brit confirmed earlier this year he will end his spell with the team to join up with rivals Ferrari.

With Hamilton heading to Ferrari at the conclusion of the 2024 season, Toto Wolff is searching for a short-term replacement for the seven-time world champion with Vettel touted as one of the options for the Silver Arrows.

The legendary German racer called time on his illustrious F1 career at the end of the 2022 season but has since refused to rule out a return.

“I would love for Seb to come back and I think it would be an amazing option for the team,” Hamilton said when pressed about the rumours ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.

“German driver, multi-world championship winning driver, and someone who has amazing values who would continue to take the team forward. I’d love it if he came back.”

Stating his hopes for the next Mercedes driver, Hamilton added: “The only thing I really care about is that the team takes on someone with integrity and that is aligned with the team and where the team’s going.

“Someone compassionate that’s able to work with great people and continues to lift them up. There’s so many great people in this team. And as drivers go… There are some that are more selfish than others.

“There are some that are good drivers but perhaps not the best within the team environment, I don’t know, because I’ve not been in with all of them. But I hope they find someone great.”

Vettel himself added fuel to the fire when he confirmed that he had enjoyed conversations with the Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff in the aftermath of the news of Hamilton’s pending departure.

“I am speaking to Toto. I don’t know if that qualifies as Mercedes, but about other things,” he told Sky Sports News. “I’m talking to a lot of people because I know them, but not very specific. I mean obviously, it does cross my mind… I do think about it, but it’s not the main thought.

“I have three kids at home, it’s busy every day, so there’s a lot of other thoughts I have. I did speak to a lot of other team principals as well, and not only about racing. There’s thoughts, but nothing concrete at the minute.”