Sebastian Vettel says the talks about replacing Helmut Marko – as Red Bull F1 team consultant, – has not been as in-depth as media make it out to be.
For some time now, F1 media has indicated or rather opined that four-time champion Vettel should be in-line to replace Marko at Red Bull, should the Austrian move away from his role. It intensified when the team faced internal issues involving the former racer and Christian Horner.
For that moment, it looked like that only one would stay on. But things died down and Marko remains a key part of the organisation as Red Bull consultant. It hasn’t deterred media to write about his eventual successor. And a lot of them wish for Vettel to return to F1 in such capacity.
There is a section who wishes that the German opts for the top F1 role held by Stefano Domenicali and or go for the FIA President position, which is held by Mohammed Ben Sulayem currently. For now, Vettel has acknowledged the stories about him successding Marko at Red Bull.
He notes nothing serious has taken place off-late when speaking on a podcast on ORF’s Sport am Sonntag. He praised Marko’s contribution to F1 and Red Bull and hopes that the Austrian can be part of the organisation for as long. “There have been a few headlines recently,” said Vettel
“I still get along great with Helmut, and we’re in contact regarding the topic. [Talks are] not yet that intensive or in-depth, it’s perhaps something that could play a role, in what form remains to be seen. He’s irreplaceable. Let’s just leave it at that. His character alone… and he’s made a very, very significant contribution to what the entire team has achieved over the years since 2005.
“And perhaps it wouldn’t even be the goal to have someone replace him. He’s said a few times that he’s going to quit, but he’s still here. I hope he stays with us for a long time. But of course, at some point, things will inevitably move on, and he knows that. He’s a brutal realist and can assess things quite well.
“He’ll sense when the time is right, I have to admit, though, that I haven’t been that close in recent years. But I do think I know what he’s doing. And no matter what happens, there’s still a lot to learn from him,” summed up Vettel.
Here’s the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/sebastian-vettel-der-vierfache-formel-1-weltmeister/id1820174255?i=1000714047791
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