Lewis Hamilton has suggested that Sebastian Vettel will return to Formula 1 at some point in the future, with the German set for his final race this weekend in Abu Dhabi.

The two drivers have over 150 Grand Prix victories between them as well as eleven world championships and the respect they have between one another is as clear as day.

They've been rivals on track, of course, with Vettel having the upper hand in the earlier years as he dominated with Red Bull, before Hamilton of course took over as the driver to try and beat after linking up with Mercedes.

They have, at times, had their incidents but the relationship they have is a positive one and they have both shared some great moments with one another.

Indeed, Hamilton recently paid tribute to Vettel on social media as the two prepare for the final race of 2022, whilst Vettel, of course, is gearing up for what looks set to be his final F1 Grand Prix ever.

That said, Hamilton believes that Vettel may well return to the grid in the future, especially given we've seen other drivers like Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen in the recent past leave only to then come back.

Hamilton tips Vettel to return

Sebastian Vettel follows Lewis Hamilton in Spain
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 22: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W13 leads Sebastian Vettel of Germany driving the (5) Aston Martin AMR22 Mercedes during the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on May 22, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 22: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W13 leads Sebastian Vettel of Germany driving the (5) Aston Martin AMR22 Mercedes during the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on May 22, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Speaking in the press conference on Thursday afternoon, Hamilton had this to say on the German's exit from F1 this weekend:

“I’m sitting here kind of accepting, yeah, this is your last race but you’ll be back.

“Formula 1 has a way of sucking you back in and we’ve noticed that with so many other drivers so…"

Hamilton also referenced Alonso's return to the sport in 2021 after a few years away, and the Spaniard is older than Seb so who is to say the Aston Martin man won't return at some point in the future.

Vettel himself has said that perhaps in a couple of years he will get bored and might look at coming back to F1 but, for now, the four-time world champion is bidding the sport farewell and hopefully he goes out on a high note here in Abu Dhabi.

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