VETTEL: I’D LIKE LEWIS AT FERRARI
SEBASTIAN VETTEL has left the door ajar for rival Lewis Hamilton to join him at Ferrari next year by insisting he would not veto the move.
Hamilton, who holds a 17-point championship lead over Vettel, ahead of this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, has still to complete his contract plans beyond this season.
The 33-year-old defending champion has repeated his intention to extend his deal with Mercedes, while the sport’s world champions are entirely confident he will stay.
But Mercedes expected to finalise negotiations before the seasonopening round in Melbourne two months ago, and the lack of an announcement is proving an unwelcome distraction. Hamilton took to the Monte Carlo press conference stage here alongside Vettel, with the former complaining the stage light was too excessive.
The two protagonists both wore sunglasses in a jovial protest.
Vettel was then asked if he would be open to Hamilton replacing Kimi Raikkonen (above) at Ferrari next year. “I don’t know because he hasn’t asked me,” Vettel, 30, replied.
Hamilton joked: “He has a veto, so that wouldn’t happen.” To which the German countered: “I don’t. I wouldn’t mind [Hamilton joining].”
Vettel added: “To be completely honest, I am very happy with the relationship I have with Kimi.”
Hamilton said: “I think we have a closer relationship, don’t we?”
He added: “I am down to race with whoever. For any driver, you want to go up against the best.”
But the four-time champion, who has won the last two races, says he is in no rush to firm up his future plans.
“I said at the beginning that there is no rush to do the deal and I will do it in my own time,” said Hamilton. (GB) (Ger) (Fin) (Fin) (Aus) (Ned) (Sp) (Ger) (Den) (Sp)