Helmut Marko has directly addressed speculation linking Sebastian Vettel to a future advisory role at Red Bull. Marko has stepped away from Red Bull, the Formula 1 team he helped shape for more than two decades. Speaking from Austria, the 82-year-old made it clear that he did not see Vettel as a realistic successor inside Red Bull’s structure.
Marko officially left Red Bull at the end of the 2025 season, bringing to a close a 21-year run that defined the team’s junior driver program. His departure came after a turbulent period marked by internal disagreements, scrutiny over his public comments, and shifting power dynamics, following the exit of key figures of the organization, like Christian Horner.
While Red Bull leadership has indicated that his role would not be directly replaced, his absence immediately fueled talk about whether a familiar name could step into an advisory capacity. Those rumors centered on Vettel, Red Bull’s four-time world champion and one of the most successful graduates of Marko’s junior system.
Asked by OE24 whether he could imagine Vettel taking on a role at the team, Marko said:
“I rather doubt it. He doesn’t have enough supporters. Especially with his, let’s say, anti-mobility stance, he would have a hard time.”
When pressed further about Sebastian Vettel potentially using the platform to promote environmental initiatives, Marko doubled down:
“But that wouldn’t increase the drivers’ efficiency.”
Since retiring from F1 in 2022, Vettel has become increasingly active in sustainability and climate advocacy. His rare appearance at the São Paulo Grand Prix was to launch his “Forest – Drawn Together” project, which encouraged fans, drivers, and team personnel to draw trees as symbols of shared environmental responsibility.
That explains Marko’s remarks, which were aimed less at Sebastian Vettel personally and more at what he saw as misaligned priorities inside a performance-driven team. Marko also discussed the timing of his own decision in the interview:
“I had planned it that way in case we did win the World Cup. Since we didn’t win, I came to the conclusion that the same should apply now. At some point, you have to know when the time is right. After all, I was responsible.”
Despite his long-standing relationship with Red Bull, Vettel himself admitted last month that he had brief conversations with Helmut Marko about a possible return to F1 in a non-driving capacity, but stressed that nothing concrete followed.
Sebastian Vettel on a possible Formula 1 return in a desk role: “Time will tell”
Sebastian Vettel has been open about his curiosity regarding life beyond the cockpit, particularly when it comes to mentoring young drivers and the humane side of racing. Though largely absent from the paddock since retiring, his recent return in Brazil showed that his connection to Formula 1 has not fully faded.
Speaking on the F1 Beyond the Grid podcast, Vettel was asked about the possibility of working with Red Bull again or in an advisory role.
“I probably would say I’m not the typical desk guy. Maybe not yet,” Vettel said. “It very much depends on the role. This is the sport that I know, this is the business that I know… I got more fascinated towards the end by the human element, the psychology behind how a team works, what you need to succeed, how to look after each other.
“I know that inside out from a driver’s point of view, but I think you can transfer that to teams in general, and also to life,” Vettel added. “I think time will tell if the right thing happens to come up. I’m not ruling it out at all. It could be very interesting.” (26:06 onwards)
For now, Helmut Marko’s comments close the door on any immediate Sebastian Vettel-to-Red Bull narrative.
Edited by Hitesh Nigam
Leave a Reply