Hamilton And Vettel Rumored To Switch Seats Between Mercedes And Ferrari

When you have more than one multiple world champion on the grid in Formula One, the market for drivers tends to revolve around them. And that's just what we're seeing now.

The latest rumors have three-time world champ Lewis Hamilton and four-time champ Sebastian Vettel potentially switching seats next year or even the year after, with Hamilton leaving for Ferrari, and Vettel moving to Mercedes.

The two drivers have been neck and neck this season, with Hamilton winning four grands prix so far and Vettel three, and just one point separating them in the championship standings (in Vettel's favor). Both Ferrari and Mercedes have built cars and engines that are lightyears ahead of the competition, leaving even Vettel's old team Red Bull struggling to keep up.

For his part, Hamilton has another year on his current contract with Mercedes, while Vettel remains a free agent at the end of this season. With Lewis stating that every great driver needs to race for Ferrari at some point, the prospect of cementing his legend in scarlet could prove a tantalizing prospect – especially if Ferrari rolls out the red carpet and offers him a cushy deal. Meanwhile the higher-ups at Mercedes may prove keen to bring a German driver on board as they have in every season until now.

Ferrari chief Sergio Marchionne says that he's offered Vettel a new contract, but that the driver has yet to sign. All the while Mercedes racing chief Toto Wolff was seen at Vettel's recent birthday party on the eve of his FIA hearing regarding his collision with Hamilton in Azerbaijan – which he was reluctant to condemn, ostensibly to keep relations with Vettel warm and hospitable towards a potential signing in the near future.

For his part, Wolff has dismissed the speculation, but as the Daily Mail points out, he'd likely be the last to know if Hamilton were thinking of jumping ship – just as McLaren was blindsided by Lewis' departure in 2012.

Even more interesting than the possibility of Hamilton and Vettel switching, however, is the prospect of them both ending up on the same team – either at Mercedes or at Ferrari. That would prove one heck of a super-team, but may prove too close for comfort as far as either driver or team is concerned. The ultimate arbiter is likely to be each driver's and team's performance, and we've still got half a season ahead of us to see how the championship shakes out