F1 driver ‘steps back’ from key role as Mercedes seek Lewis Hamilton replacement

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Alex Wurz says Sebastian Vettel has ‘stepped back’ from his role as a director of the GPDA, amid reports linking the German with replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.

The 36-year-old had acted as a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) since 2010. But Vettel has chosen to step down from the position after leaving the Formula 1 grid following the 2022 season. Wurz notes that the GPDA will not replace Vettel going forward.

Vettel’s decision leaves George Russell as the sole active F1 driver with a key position within the GPDA. All 20 of the current field are members of the trade union which looks after their varying interests – such as driver safety. They also work to improve the sport and the racing.

Alex Wurz reveals Sebastian Vettel has ‘stepped back’ from his role as a GPDA director

Russell took a directorial role in the GPDA after Romain Grosjean left F1 for IndyCar after the 2020 season. He joined Vettel, chairman Wurz and the union’s legal advisor Anastasia Fowle. She is the first and so far remains the only non-Formula 1 driver to work as a GPDA director.

Wurz has acted as the chairman of the GPDA since 2014 when he replaced Pedro de la Rosa in the role. The former Benetton, McLaren and Williams driver is the second-longest serving chairman since Michael Schumacher (1994-2005), who stepped in after the union reformed.

Now, Russell will serve as the only active F1 driver in a directorial role after Vettel elected to reduce his responsibilities within the GPDA. But Wurz notes that the four-time F1 champion will remain a key figure in the organisation. Vettel still partakes in some of their discussions.

“Sebastian has stepped back in his active director role,” Wurz revealed to PlanetF1. “But he remains, of course, a key person in the GPDA and GPDA history. We are always happy when he joins our debates.”

Sebastian Vettel finds replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025 ‘very attractive’

Vettel deciding to take a step back from his GPDA role comes amid reports by F1 Insider that the German now finds replacing Hamilton at Mercedes ‘very attractive’. Vettel ‘can certainly imagine’ returning to F1 after two years out with Hamilton agreeing to join Ferrari for 2025.

Hamilton has triggered a release clause in his contract with Mercedes to move to Maranello on a multi-year deal. He will replace Carlos Sainz racing in red after the 2024 F1 season. And Sky Germany has named Vettel as a candidate to replace Hamilton at Mercedes next season.

Vettel left Formula 1 after finishing his two seasons with Aston Martin in 2021 and 2022 just 12th in the drivers’ championship. He only took one podium finish for the Silverstone squad at the 2021 Azerbaijan GP. Vettel had second at the 2021 Hungarian GP but was disqualified.