Lewis Hamilton says Sebastian Vettel 'would be amazing option for Mercedes'

Lewis Hamilton has said that retired Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel would be an "amazing option" for Mercedes to fill the Briton's seat next season.

Vettel, 36, said on Wednesday that he was "potentially" in the market for a 2025 comeback and was talking to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and others.

"I would love for Seb to come back and I think he would be an amazing option for the team," Hamilton, who joins Ferrari next season, said at the Suzuka Circuit on Thursday ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.

He said the German driver would be good fit for the German manufacturer and that Vettel's racing pedigree would push forward a team trying to revive the form that delivered seven back-to-back drivers championships between 2014 and 2020.

The German won four titles between 2010 and 2013 with Red Bull and has recently had a test with Porsche that could see him race at Le Mans later this year.

Since 2000, three of the six world champions to leave the sport later returned to the grid. Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen all had time away from F1 before being enticed back.

The departing Hamilton said it was never a consideration of his to take time away from the sport, before hailing Vettel as an ideal replacement.

"No, I've never thought about taking a year or two off and then coming back - when I'm gone, hopefully I'm gone for good," he said.

"You're always going to miss it. It's the greatest sport in the world and it's the greatest experience in the world and the most amazing feeling to be working with the people towards winning something.

"Probably there's nothing that's ever going to feel the same. I've not asked any of the drivers what they're missing but I would love for Seb to come back.