Vettel confirms Wolff texts following Hamilton Ferrari move

Sebastian Vettel has confirmed text messages with Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff have been exchanged following confirmation of Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari.

The seven-time F1 Drivers' champion will make the switch to the Scuderia from next season, leaving a vacant seat at Mercedes alongside George Russell.

Vettel, who retired from the sport at the end of the 2022 season, has been touted as a potential replacement for his former rival and asked about Hamilton's move, the four-time champion told Swiss outlet Neue Zurcher Zeitung: “I was surprised by this change.

“Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff didn't call me, but we briefly exchanged text messages.

“But so far it's not an issue for me, also because at 36 I still have all the time in the world. So it doesn't go away. But my signs haven't changed.

“I think that I have learned and understood a lot in this one year without racing, including about myself.

“Being on the other side had a big impact on me; a lot of questions came up. So far there is no active project.”

Door open for F1 return

Vettel has not returned to racing since leaving F1, focusing on his own side projects and family life.

But pressed on whether a potential comeback to F1 was a clear no, Vettel insisted: “No, I already said back then that there wouldn't be a clear no in that sense, because I believe that everything is a process.

“Maybe there will come a point at which I say: Yes, I would like to go back - when I sort it out mentally so that it suddenly makes sense again.

“But at the moment I'm doing very well without driving in Formula 1. There is no firm no, but also no firm yes.”