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As it stands, Sebastian Vettel has no F1 seat in 2021. With McLaren announcing Daniel Ricciardo, Seb’s chances of getting a competitive seat are alarmingly low. Vettel reportedly rejected a possible McLaren deal during extended development time before the race wins. With Red Bull closing the door, Vettel has only one option left in F1, if he wants competitive driving.
Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton: a troubled couple
But Mercedes has its own reasons for not signing the 4-time World Champion. Simply put, there is the microscopic possibility that Seb will join Mercedes. Unfortunately, this could be Vettel’s last season in F1.
A driver lineup comprised of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel sounds incredible and could be the strongest pairing on the grid. However, Mercedes cannot afford two champions at the same time. Even though Vettel claims that money doesn’t play a role, it will still have a price on its head that even a team like Mercedes can’t match.
In the unlikely scenario that Vettel will accept a massive pay cut, there are other factors that Mercedes cannot ignore. Mainly, the headache of managing two alpha controllers at the same time.
It has not been made public, but Ferrari’s offer to Seb clearly upset the 4-time Champion. Some believe that Ferrari offered him a deal that did not guarantee equal treatment for both drivers. Others say Ferrari was deliberately trying to kick him out, from the start. However, it’s pretty clear that Vettel is looking for a team that cares about him and is willing to back him up when the time comes.
Sebastian Vettel will not play Lewis Hamilton’s second violin under any circumstances. Disputes within the team can get out of hand quickly and create nasty fireworks. Something that Mercedes is trying to avoid in its quest to remain Champions in F1.
They need it?
While Lewis is unlikely to vet the arrival of Vettel, Mercedes would be dealing with two heavyweights that are highly combustible. 10 World Championships sounds good on paper, but it brings a lot of complexities. Brackley’s outfit doesn’t need to upset his balance at this point.
By signing Vettel, Mercedes would also be turning a blind eye to its own young driver program. Brackley’s team would throw poor George Russell under the bus, if they choose Seb. By relegating Russell to prolonged midfield driving, Mercedes would be delaying his career for many years. More importantly, sabotaging a well-established junior program is not a good strategy.
Finally, Mercedes simply doesn’t need Sebastian Vettel right now. They have the best car; They have the best driver and have been unstoppable for the past 6 years. In the case of Mercedes: if it is not broken, do not fix it.
Sadly, Seb may be forced to walk away from F1 very early. Make no mistake, you are as hungry as before to win again, but unfortunately you don’t have the resources.
