Sebastian Vettel on Wednesday said he hopes his countryman and friend Michael Schumacher finds a seat to keep racing in formula one next year.
Seven time world champion Schumacher has lost his Mercedes drive to Lewis Hamilton.
But he has been linked with a move to another team - perhaps Sauber, Williams or Lotus - while Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche has offered him a job in team management at Mercedes GP.
World champion Vettel said the 43-year-old would be a big loss to F1.
"He is the biggest name in formula one," the Red Bull driver is quoted by SID news agency, "and it’s always fun to race against him.
"It would be nice to see him again next year.
"I would be delighted," said Vettel, responding to speculation Schumacher is weighing up his options to extend his comeback into a fourth season with a second team.
"But that’s Michael’s decision alone," he insisted.