Max Verstappen would welcome Sebastian Vettel in Red Bull fold if he decides to, as he plays down any issues with Sergio Perez.
The last few weeks has linked Vettel to a role at Red Bull as a potential replacement of Helmut Marko. Not that it will happen certainly, but the German could find a place at his former F1 team. It is not necessary that he replaces the Austrian, but he can join in a different role.
Since the news surfaced, Red Bull dropped a bombshell of ending Christian Horner’s team principal role and replacing him with Laurent Mekies. Before this announcement, Verstappen welcomed the idea of Vettel joining the F1 team in future in whatever capacity he can.
“I mean, it’s more than normal that someone that has achieved so much with Red Bull, has been brought up by Red Bull, that, in a sense, there’s always a spot available, right? I think also, Seb always kept a really good relationship with Helmut anyway, even when he left,” said Verstappen. “So, I didn’t know that they were talking, but I’m sure that there’s always a space for Seb in any kind of form.”
Former team manager and current Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley concurred the Dutchman, while noting that he doesn’t thinks Marko will go anywhere. “I think first of all trying to replace Helmut is quite a challenge in itself,” he said. “I can’t quite imagine how any one individual could do that. I haven’t seen Sebastian for a while.
“He’s a seriously impressive person, as you all know. I believe the conversations have been confirmed between the two parties, but whether that comes to anything, I don’t know. But I’m hoping I see Helmut in that role for a much, much longer period of time,” summed up Wheatley.
Elsewhere, Verstappen also played down any issues with former teammate Perez. In a podcast in Mexico, the Mexican noted how the Dutchman keeps grudge if he doesn’t find something to be right. He referred to the case in 2022 when Perez crashed out in Monaco qualifying.
It was laballed as deliberate, where Perez won the grand prix from third. Later in the year when Red Bull asked Verstappen to help Perez to keep second in drivers’ standings, the Dutchman did not do so. The Mexican recalled this incident, but the four-time champion noted that Perez didn’t mean in that way.
“I think also how you now worded it is not how he meant it,” said Verstappen. “I have a great relationship with Checo. We’ve always been great team-mates. I have a lot of respect for him, he has a lot of respect for me. That’s it from my side. I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing him again soon in the paddock.
“I still need to give him a helmet of mine – I promised him that, because he gave me one of his with a very nice message on it. I promised him, yeah, hopefully around Mexico that I can give him mine. So, for me, whatever is written in the media, I know how Checo is and we have a great relationship.”
Here’s drivers on ghost of second Red Bull seat
Here’s Yuki Tsunoda on his situation + Laurent Mekies on new job
Here’s Christian Horner on departure
Here’s Sebastian Vettel on talks
