Vettel to McLaren in 2023? Think of the F1 driver reshuffle it could trigger — MPH

F1

Sebastian Vettel was careful not to rule anything out when asked about a move to McLaren next year. F1's 2023 silly season is well underway — and could be complex, writes Mark Hughes

Sebastian Vettel portrait

Grand Prix Photo

Mark Hughes

“It’s just rumours, I think,” says Sebastian Vettel to the idea that he could be in discussion with McLaren for next year. He thinks? Well, he would know either way, surely. If he’s not, he would know he’s not and if he is, then he’d know that too! There isn’t really a viable situation where he’s not sure if he is or isn’t. This isn’t Schr̈odinger’s driver market.

Seb is supremely uncomfortable with the outright lie. In fact, I cannot ever recall him telling one. Sure, there can be a misleading statement, but such is his sincerity there will invariably be a neutralising addendum. Such as ‘I think’.

Daniel Ricciardo is another like that. In fact it was only his carefully-worded answers to questions about his McLaren contract earlier in the season which opened up the whole ‘the option is on Ricciardo’s side’ story. Like Vettel, he will tread around an awkward question rather than give an outright false reply.

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So as he is doubling down on his statement of last week insisting that he wishes to see out his McLaren contract (which runs to the end of 2023), there are lines there which need to be read between. His position of, ‘I 100% want to stay’ can be both 100% true and 100% a negotiating position for not taking up his option. The opening gambit would be, “I 100% want to stay. What is your position?”

Maybe Vettel has initiated contact after following Ricciardo’s developing contractual story. From McLaren’s perspective, exchanging Ricciardo for Vettel would seem to carry some risk – of ending up in much the same difficulty with a hugely-rated veteran whose form may not be as robust as it once was.

One of the most robust performers F1 has ever seen, Fernando Alonso, is currently in great form for Alpine but out of contract as of the end of this year. Surely Alpine couldn’t be considering letting him go? It wants to keep him, but maybe on a shorter duration of contract than he is seeking, maybe because of his age. Regarding this, he’s recently pointed out that it is not him who is taking up space for quick young drivers trying to make it to F1, but the slow guys… they’re the ones in the way, not him! A fantastic, mischievous, typical Alonso comment – and also true. Anyway, there may be a seat at McLaren. Or Aston Martin… His options don’t necessarily begin and end with Alpine.

2022 Austrian GP Daniel Ricciardo McLaren F1 driver

Ricciardo still has a McLaren contract for 2023

McLaren

Colton Herta testing McLaren F1 team, 2022

Colton Herta tested for the team

McLaren

Fernando Alonso portrait

Alonso is on his way to Aston

Grand Prix Photo

As such, Alpine’s hot prospect Oscar Piastri just might be needed sooner rather than later – which would explain why the expected announcement that he would be joining Williams for next year is already overdue.

Piastri has also been mentioned in connection with McLaren – as of course has Indycar star Colton Herta, who was testing the ’21 McLaren at Portimao last week. Herta has also been earmarked by his Indycar team Andretti for its proposed – but not yet accepted – entry into F1 in 2024.

If – and these are big ifs – Ricciardo does not see out his McLaren deal beyond the end of this year and is replaced by his former team-mate Vettel, who might Aston Martin seek as a replacement? Mick Schumacher’s is the name mentioned in that regard, which would create a vacancy at Haas. Which might or might not be filled by Ferrari Academy driver Robert Shwartzman.

So it’s quite a complex 2023 silly season, with much of it seeming to hang on the plans of a driver, Ricciardo, who may not even be on the grid. Just be careful not to take all the words at face value.

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