Wolff contacted Vettel: 'Have briefly exchanged text messages'

After the 2022 Formula 1 season, Sebastian Vettel retired. With Lewis Hamilton's transfer to Ferrari, there was much talk about who should replace the Briton at Mercedes. Vettel's name was also mentioned in this regard. Speaking to Nzz.ch, the German responded.

Vettel has always said he will not take Formula 1 completely out of his mind for the time being if he is called. Hamilton's transfer could be the start of a comeback for the four-time world champion. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff responded fairly soon after the seven-time world champion's announcement when asked whether Vettel might return to Formula 1. At the time, the Austrian said he thought the German driver was no longer looking forward to it.

Nevertheless, Wolff contacted the four-time world champion: "I was surprised by the transfer. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff did not call me, but we briefly exchanged text messages. So far it's not a problem for me, also because at 36 I still have all the time in the world, so it doesn't fall away."

He continues: "But my signals have changed. I think in this one year without racing, I have learnt and understood a lot, also about myself. Being on the other side had a big impact on me, and a lot of questions came to my mind. So far, I have no active plans."

Asked whether this means Vettel is definitively ruling out Formula 1, he replied, "No. I said at the time that there would be no clear no in that sense because I believe that all is a process. And maybe there will come a time when I say: yes, I would like to go back. When I mentally get it together, so that it suddenly makes sense again. But at the moment, things are going very well without driving Formula 1. There is no definite no, but also no definite yes."