Hamilton hopes for ‘something really positive’ for Vettel in F1 2021
Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton says he hopes “something really positive” comes up for Sebastian Vettel in 2021.
Vettel is leaving Ferrari at the end of the season after the Maranello squad decided not to offer him a new deal, and the four-time world champion is currently without a drive for next year.
The four-time world champion has held talks with Racing Point about a potential seat with the team for 2021 when it rebrands into Aston Martin, though its current drivers Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez are both under contract.
Speaking during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, Hamilton praised the way Vettel has handled his looming exit from Ferrari.
"I've made comments in the past, but I saw the difficult race he had had previously [at Silverstone], and all I can try to do is empathise with the position he's in and try to be understanding,” the six-times world champion said.
"Because it can never be a great feeling, to have been told that you're not wanted to continue within the team, especially when you join a team and get into a team, you give your all, you give your heart.
"But I think the way he is pushing and the way he is continuing to try help the team, I think it just shows the great character he has and his commitment to racing.
"I hope that something really positive comes up for him moving forwards.”
Vettel has endured a difficult 2020 season so far getting to grips with Ferrari’s troublesome SF1000 and currently sits 11th in the championship having managed a best result of sixth place in Hungary.
But former Ferrari teammate, Kimi Raikkonen, reckons Vettel has what it takes to bounce back from his worst start to an F1 season.
"I'm sure he's not very happy about how things are going, but that's how it is", Raikkonen said.
"Ferrari is Ferrari and people are looking at those things, for sure the Italians. But I doubt it will affect how he does his job there.
"I think he's been in the sport long enough to know that sometimes it's like that and to find a way to turn it around.”
Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo, who partnered Vettel for one season at Red Bull in 2014, also expects the German to turn things around.
"I think one thing with Seb is he's very passionate about the sport, he loves it," Ricciardo explained.
"He's someone that's going to analyse everything and find a way to improve or find an answer to a question. I don't think he's a guy to just walk away from a problem.
"I think he cares too much, whether it's pure love for the sport or the pride he has in himself. I expect him to bounce back. I certainly do.
"If he wants to keep doing it and if he believes he can keep doing it at the top level he's shown for the last 10 years, then 100 percent he should stay in the sport. He's good for the sport, but that's up to him to answer."
