Wolff: No decision yet on Hamilton replacement but Vettel a candidate
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said on Friday it was too early to decide on who will replace Lewis Hamilton from next season but added that currently retired Sebastian Vettel could be a candidate.
Wolff only confirmed that they have a shortlist of drivers but added that "we haven't taken the decision yet and it's not something that we plan to do in the next few weeks."
Hamilton announced a shock move to Ferrari from next season onwards after winning six of his seven Formula One world titles with Mercedes where he has been driving since 2013.
Triple world champion Max Verstappen is Wolff's top target but the Dutchman is contracted at Red Bull until 2028, and their team principal Christian Horner told Sky TV on Friday that Verstappen is "100%" staying.
Vettel won four world titles with Red Bull 2010-2013 and retired after the 2022 season. The German has not ruled out a comeback lately.
"Sebastian is someone you can never discount," Wolff told reporters, naming his track record "phenomenal."
But Wolff also said that half of the grid will be out of contract after the season in a "very dynamic" driver market.
Carlos Sainz has to leave Ferrari for the arriving Hamilton, former world champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin has been named a potential Mercedes candidate, and so has their 17-year-old academy driver Kimi Antonelli.
"Some of the really good guys they are about to sign for some of the other teams, and we want to continue to have these discussions and keep the options open," Wolff said.
"It's much too early for us to commit to a driver whether very young or whether very experienced - I don't want to say old. The next few months will give us more clues."
