Helmut Marko has revealed Sebastian Vettel has enquired about the chances of a return to Red Bull, and why the team isn’t going for it.
Vettel’s Formula 1 career came to an end after the 2022 season, where he spent two years competing in the midfield for Aston Martin. However, it seems that the German driver’s desire for competition remains strong.
Helmut Marko: Sebastian Vettel has asked Red Bull ‘again and again’
After enjoying a peaceful year at home with his family, Vettel has recently made a comeback to the driver’s seat of a high-performance racing car. He joined Porsche for their pre-Le Mans preparations, as there was a genuine chance of him joining their team.
For now, the collaboration between Porsche and Vettel fell through, even after a rigorous evaluation process.
During the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Vettel paid homage to the late Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger by leading the driver tributes. Behind the wheel of a McLaren MP4/8, the same car Senna drove for an entire season, the four-time F1 World Champion circuited the Imola racetrack.
However, despite Vettel’s attempts to downplay the possibility of a complete return to Formula 1, Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko has disclosed that the German driver, who secured all four of his championship titles with Milton Keynes and still maintains a robust connection with the team, has expressed interest in making a comeback.
Sergio Perez’s contract with Red Bull is set to expire in 2025, leaving an open seat. However, according to Marko, it is not considered an ideal scenario for Sebastian Vettel to make a comeback alongside Max Verstappen.
“He has asked us again and again,” Marko revealed to Formula1.de, as quoted by Motorsport-Total.
“But being alongside Verstappen, I believe it wouldn’t be an enjoyable experience for him.”
Marko, who collaborated closely with Vettel at Red Bull throughout his entire career, including his early days, expressed skepticism about the possibility of Vettel returning to Formula 1. Marko believes that the extensive time commitments required by the sport would make it difficult for Vettel, especially considering his main reason for retiring was to prioritize spending time with his young family at home.
Marko believes that Vettel might be enticed to participate in top-level sportscar endurance racing due to the World Endurance Championship’s limited number of races, which amounts to only eight rounds per year. He considers this as a favorable option for the four-time F1 World Champion.
Despite Vettel being significantly younger than Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, Marko doesn’t believe that his age is a disadvantage. When asked about the possibility of a comeback, Marko simply responded, “Where would that happen?”
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During the Imola weekend, Vettel expressed his thoughts after stepping out of Senna’s McLaren, revealing that although a part of him longed to compete in a formidable Formula 1 car, the prospect of retirement held greater significance.
He informed the media, including PlanetF1.com, that he is thoroughly enjoying his time, especially with the children.
On days like this, when the sun is shining and the crowds are gathered, it is quite clear that I yearn for Formula 1. I long to be in a fast and competitive car, standing on the starting grid.
Vettel was questioned about the possibility of a comeback, but he quickly dismissed that idea.
He remarked, “It doesn’t appear to resemble [it] because I believe I possess a unique approach towards accomplishing tasks.”
When asked if he yearns for F1 and desires another opportunity, Vettel acknowledged, “There are definitely aspects that I miss, but there are also certain elements that simply don’t align harmoniously.”
“It was an incredibly difficult decision that continues to sting. However, with one-and-a-half years of separation, I believe the pain has lessened. Presently, I feel much more content and have found solace in embracing my new life.”
He stated that there are numerous things he longs for, as well as things he doesn’t yearn for, making it a constant exchange.
“Nowadays, Formula 1 is incredibly intense. When you consider the jam-packed schedule and the numerous races, it’s not just the drivers who experience this intensity, but also the mechanics, engineers, and even the media working in the Formula 1 paddock.”
Making the decision was difficult for me, as I had anticipated. I weighed the option of returning, but ultimately, my choice remains unchanged. I am still content with my decision.
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