Helmut Marko has indicated that Sebastian Vettel may return to Formula 1 as a driver. The four-time world champion has often been linked to the role of advisor to Red Bull Racing if Marko leaves, but the chapter as a driver seemed to be closed. The German will not return to his old love anytime soon. Marko does not want to put Vettel next to Max Verstappen.
Vettel said goodbye to Formula 1 last season. After two unsuccessful years with the Aston Martin team, the driver decided to hang up his helmet. Marko still has regular contact with the driver who won four championships at Red Bull. “Sebastian isn’t working on anything in particular at the moment and I’m not sure he knows what exactly he wants. However, I do not believe that the driver’s chapter is completely closed for him,” says the Red Bull advisor at ServusTV.
Would the German then end up with the reigning world champion? “I don’t want to do it to him by putting him next to Verstappen.” Marko also thinks that Vettel does not see a future in Formula 1 for the time being. ‘The contracts with the team will also continue for a while. In addition, it will not be an easy decision for him, because Formula 1 will continue to use fossil fuels. The environmental aspect is important to him, but if he thinks things are going in the right direction, I don’t see why not.’
AlphaTauri not an option for Vettel
Yet enough is happening in the background at the Austrian racing stable. There is a lot of talk about Sergio Pérez’s place at Red Bull and no one at AlphaTauri seems certain about his seat. The Italian racing team wants an experienced driver for the near future, but there is little chance that this will be Vettel. ‘We have that experienced driver in Daniel Ricciardo. If Sebastian wants to come back, he wants to go to a top team where he can win races,” Marko concludes.
