Wolff serious about interest in Vettel: "There may suddenly be a place available"

Now that Sebastian Vettel will no longer drive at Ferrari next year and has to look for another team, his name is frequently mentioned at Mercedes. As unlikely as that change seems, team boss Toto Wolff refuses to rule out that possibility immediately. Something Helmut Marko did for Red Bull Racing before.

"We don't say that without being serious. We owe it to a four-time world champion not to say no right away. That's the way to look at it," says Wolff in conversation with Speedweek.com. "On the other hand, we're very happy with our two drivers and George. But you never know. One of them might decide he doesn't want to race anymore and suddenly there's a free spot."

David Coulthard previously suggested that Wolff and Vettel Lewis would put Hamilton under pressure in the negotiations. The Brit is asking for more money and Mercedes is hoping to get a better deal. However, Valtteri Bottas' contract also expires after this year and according to Wolff he only keeps the options open.

"That's why I don't want to say in June: no chance, Sebastian doesn't drive for us. First of all, as a driver I wouldn't want to reject him so bluntly, and I also saw some surprising turns when nobody expected that. Think of Nico Rosberg. That's why we keep our options open. But of course we focus on the negotiations with our current drivers."