Vettel laughs off rumours about Mercedes move
>> BARCELONA: Ferrari’s Formula One championship leader Sebastian Vettel made light on Thursday of media speculation that he might move to rivals Mercedes in 2018.
“I didn’t know [about the rumours],” the German said at a news conference ahead of tomorrow’s Spanish Grand Prix. “Is it coming from Italy?
“Have you asked the Italians? They seem to know more than I do,” he added.
Vettel said his focus was on this season, but the absence of an outright denial may do little to dampen the rumours.
Vettel, as well as teammate Kimi Raikkonen, is out of contract at the end of the season while Mercedes hired Valtteri Bottas at short notice to replace champion Nico Rosberg after his shock retirement.
Mercedes have been the dominant team in Formula One for the past three seasons and lead the constructors’ standings after four of this years 20 races.
Vettel, a four-times world champion, is 13 points clear of Mercedes’ triple title winner Lewis Hamilton after the German won in Australia and Bahrain.
Hamilton won in China and Bottas in Russia, his first victory in Formula One.
With so many seats on the grid potentially available next season, rumours are swirling about who might be going where.
Asked who he would like as a teammate and whether he would welcome the return of his predecessor, Fernando Alonso, now with struggling McLaren, Vettel grinned: “In the end of the day, I’m signing my contract. I’m not signing other people’s.
“It’s not my decision but I’m ready to race whoever comes along.”