“Will Think Outside the Box”-Toto Wolff Not Ruling out Sebastian Vettel Yet

Despite the lack of racing, one of the most frustrating things in F1 right now is the 2021 driver market. And that’s partly due to one man and his future plans. As things stand, Sebastian Vettel doesn’t have a contract and his only chance at a competitive seat is at Mercedes. Team Principal Toto Wolff has acknowledged this but hasn’t provided a definitive answer regarding the same.

Recently, the Austrian hailed Vettel’s attributes but maintained that the team was prioritizing its own drivers. However, Toto asserted that Mercedes would sit down for contract talks only when the season resumes. Wolff mentioned loyalty as a driving factor in talks but also hinted at “thinking outside the box”.

Toto Wolff on Sebastian Vettel

With Red Bull shutting the door and Ferrari opting for Sainz, Vettel needs a Mercedes seat, if he intends to drive a competitive car in 2021. It’s unlikely for the 4 times World Champion to join a midfield team in the twilight of his F1 career. Wolff has admitted that Vettel brings in German appeal, which is great from a marketing standpoint.

A German World Champion driving for a German team sounds amazing. More importantly, it could help revive German motorsport, which is on the brink of extinction. However, Mercedes has the optimal driver pairing and needn’t change anything.

Mercedes would never sacrifice a winning formula for better marketing. Nevertheless, Toto hasn’t ruled anything out as of yet. Speaking to RTL, Toto said:

“Of course from a German point of view, that would be a great thing, but we must remain true to our path. Loyalty is incredibly important and part of our values.”

“We are loyal to our current drivers and don’t want to enter into negotiations at a time when the season hasn’t even started. Only then (once the season has started) you will think outside the box and see what else is possible.”

“In the end, it’s the performance and the dynamics between the drivers that count. Of course, the marketing aspect also plays a role and we have to take all these factors into account.”

Toto could be saying this just to gain some form of leverage in contract talks. However, anything can happen in F1. Silly season is only just beginning.