Formula 1: 5 possible landing spots for Sebastian Vettel in 2021

Sebastian Vettel possible landing spots: Mercedes

While Sebastian Vettel will not be replaced at Ferrari by Lewis Hamilton ahead of the 2021 Formula 1 season, there are still two seats slated to be open at Mercedes with Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas both in contract years. assuming they still field a team in 2021 with the new rules and regulations slated to be enforced.

Mercedes team principal and CEO Toto Wolff has previously stated that hiring Vettel is not out of the question, and when Vettel and Ferrari confirmed that they will be going their separate ways after the 2020 season, he called the situation a development that the team cannot ignore while referring to Vettel as an “asset”.

Assuming that was more than just talk, 2021 would be the right time to make the German driver an asset for the German team.

There has also been a lot of talk about Mercedes junior driver George Russell being the heir apparent to Hamilton at the Silver Arrows. However, the current Williams driver is reportedly under contract with Williams through the 2021 season, per Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams, and they have no plan of changing that.

This only further solidifies the idea that Vettel is a solid option for the Brackley-based team for the 2021 season, even though it remains likely that they will retain both Hamilton and Bottas.

Bottas is slated for a fourth season with the team in 2020, and Wolff vowed to do a better job in terms of contract negotiations with the 30-year-old Finn in the future following a 2019 season that included many rumors about his future, hinting at, although notably not confirming, an extended stay.

Additionally, Bottas recently stated that he has been told that Vettel won’t replace him. Here is what he had to say on the Sky F1 Vodcast.

"“It’s the same as every year for me. I find it quite funny that with not even a single race done, there’s been people getting my seat. It made me laugh! So there’s no pressure from that side. I have my clear goal for the season in my mind and that’s it. Things will then sort themselves one way or another, whatever’s going to happen. I’ve no stress about that at all.” “It doesn’t get to you. We’ve been very honest about what the situation is all the time about contracts, and I got a pretty straight message that no, they’re not considering Seb. So I said fine, no worries then.”"

Regardless, Mercedes have zero drivers under contract for 2021, and aside of Hamilton and Bottas, Vettel seems like the most likely option.