Bernie Ecclestone believes a partnership of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel woꦐuld create a “super team” at Mercedes and would benefit Formula 𒆙1. 

Vettel is leaving Ferrari at the end of the year once his contract expires and has set off a driver market merry-go-round with Carlos Sainz announced as his replacement and Daniel Ricciardo subsequently joining M💦cLaren in 2021 from midfield rivals Renault. 

The four-time world champion currently has no 𓄧sea𒅌t lined up for next season but has been linked with a possible move to Mercedes, with Toto Wolff admitting that signing Vettel would have appeal. 

Former F1 supremo Ecclestone, who is a clo🌃se friend of Vettel, has backed the notion of a Hamilton-Vettel pairing at Mercedes.

“I’d like to see him at Mercedes,” Ecclestone told RTL. 

“I’d like to see ꦓhim against Lewis Hamilton, I think that would be good for Formula 1, good for the sport, good for the people w🍬atching.

“I think bot꧃h of them get along with each other without any problems. It’s not a case of what their egos are, both have super talent. So it would make a super, super team.

“I don’t see any💛 problem with Lewis being concerned at all and I know Sebastian would love to have the opportunity to r🍌ace against him.”

Ecclestone also offered a𒀰 theory as to why he believes Vettel has b🅺een unable to emulate the success of his childhood hero Michael Schumacher in winning a world championship with Ferrari. 

He explained: “Michael’s situation with Ferrari was a little bit different 💞becaus𒀰e I once said to him, ‘who’s running the team?’ He said ‘I am.’ That’s probably the truth why they’re so successful.

“The trouble with Italians, they haven’t really got🐓 a lot of lead♓ers…they haven’t got a leader in my opinion. 

“The perso🐎n in charge of the team is basically a super engineer, he’s been with Feﷺrrari for more than 20 years.”

EDITOR'S PICKS: The pros and cons of a Vettel and Mercedes F1 alliance