Lewis Hamilton believes Mercedes should pursue a deal for Sebastian Vettel after the German said he was open to coming out of retirement.
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari for next season means there is a void to fill at Mercedes with four-time world champion Vettel among the potential replacements.
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The 36-year-old retired from Formula One at the end of the 2022 season having won four straight drivers’ championships with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013 before representing Ferrari and Aston Martin.
Speaking at Suzuka ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, Hamilton told reporters: “I would love for Seb to come back and I think it would be an amazing option for the team.
“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.”
A short-term deal for veteran Vettel may turn out to be Mercedes’ preferred option to give 17-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a rising star in Formula 2, more time to develop.
Hamilton added: “The only thing I really care about is that the team takes on someone that with integrity and that are 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 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’m not been in with all of them . But I hope they find someone great.
“They’ve already got George [Russell] and he’s perfect so finding a good option alongside him I’m sure they’ve got so many good options. They’ve got so many options. I do think it’s always great to give an opportunity to up and coming drivers so the idea of a youngster coming in for me is exciting.”
