Former F1 race winner Ralf Schumacher has suggested Sebastian Vettel could make a comeback to the sport to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.
The German driver retired at the end of the 2022 season and has yet to return to racing, though never fully closed the door on driving competitively again.
Hamilton's move to Ferrari for next season has kick-started the driver market speculation for the year, with a host of names linked to the vacant seat at Mercedes alongside George Russell.
"I heard that Sebastian Vettel wants to drive a car again," Schumacher told Sky Germany.
"Of course, you have to close a gap now. You saw what happened on the stock market after Lewis Hamilton moved to Ferrari, that triggered something."
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'Too big for him'
Russell has impressed with his performances since joining the Silver Arrows for the 2022 season and whilst he fell behind Hamilton last term, he has picked up the team's only victory of the current generation of car en route to beating the seven-time champion in their first year together.
Yet despite this, Schumacher has cast doubt over the Briton's ability to take over from Hamilton as the lead driver of the Brackley-based ouftit.
"Whether George Russell has the charisma to replace Lewis Hamilton worldwide in terms of marketing or Sebastian Vettel as a German driver at Mercedes... that is probably too big for him."
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Bohunkgearhead
Ralf has always been full of himself. If Seb Vettel returns to F1, I expect it would be with Red bull to replace Helmut Marko when he retires.
rogerhenson1
What? Will he forget his hate for petroleum products?
Bohunkgearhead
F1 is going to a more sustainable fuel in 2026, much as Seb would like. Not exactly the fuel choice he would make, but still different.