How Sebastian Vettel reacted when he heard Lewis Hamilton was joining Ferrari

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Sebastian Vettel has shared his instant reaction after reading that Lewis Hamilton was heading to Ferrari for 2025.

Ferrari confirmed in February that they had captured the signature of the seven-time world champion for next year.

And speaking to Sky Germany, retired F1 driver Vettel has recalled how he felt when the news first emerged.

Vettel and Hamilton were long-time adversaries during the German’s time in the sport.

With the former at Red Bull and the latter at McLaren, they scrapped at the front of the field between 2009 and 2012.

Vettel won four straight championships with the Bulls before Hamilton and new team Mercedes seized control at the beginning of the turbo/hybrid era in 2014.

He dramatically left Red Bull for Ferrari a year later and unsuccessfully challenged the Briton for the top honours in 2017 and 2018.

The Scuderia dropped Vettel ahead of the 2021 season in favour of Carlos Sainz, and the 53-time Grand Prix winner saw out the last two years of his career at Aston Martin.

Sebastian Vettel didn’t believe Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari reports

Vettel was under the impression that the initial reports of Hamilton jumping ship weren’t ‘true’.

But after discovering otherwise, he said he got in touch with the 39-year-old.

While he remains in contact with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, he insists he hasn’t spoken to the Austrian about potentially replacing Hamilton.

“Of course, I noticed the change, just like everyone else. At first I was very skeptical and thought to myself that it wasn’t true.

“But then there was something to it and I’m really happy for Lewis.

“I wrote to him straight after and we’re in touch anyway. I’m the same way in contact with others and also with Toto.

“But now we haven’t spoken specifically about what the future might bring.”

Will Vettel come back to F1?

Vettel hung up his helmet at the end of 2022 but there is predecent for world champions returning to the sport.

Compatriot Michael Schumacher made a comeback with Mercedes in 2010, four years after he first retired.

Likewise, Fernando Alonso bid farewell in 2018, only to then return to the sport with Alpine for the 2021 season.

Reports have suggested that Vettel finds the prospect of racing for the Silver Arrows ‘attractive’.

Former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan thinks such a move would make sense for Wolff, while ex-driver Hans Stuck is 100% convinced a deal will happen.

Vettel has returned to the racetrack recently, albeit to test Porsche’s hypercar rather than any F1 machinery.