Red Bull Shake-Up: Vettel Tipped to Replace Helmut Marko after… read more
Speculation is growing around the possible return of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel to Red Bull Racing—but not as a driver this time. Instead, the German F1 legend is being linked with the senior advisor role currently held by Helmut Marko, who has been a fixture in the Red Bull team since its early years.
Marko, now 82, has played a critical role in shaping Red Bull’s success in Formula 1, particularly through his work in identifying and nurturing young talent. With increasing talks about succession, Vettel’s name has naturally emerged as a leading candidate to step into the advisor role when the time comes.
Vettel shares a deep and storied history with the Red Bull team. Having risen through the ranks thanks to the support of Red Bull’s junior programme, he made history by securing the team’s first pole position, first race victory, and its first World Championship title. Between 2010 and 2013, Vettel and Red Bull formed one of the most dominant pairings in F1 history, capturing four consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ titles.
After his peak years with Red Bull, Vettel moved to Ferrari in 2015 in search of new challenges and later joined Aston Martin before announcing his retirement from racing in 2022. Since then, Vettel has stayed connected to the sport, frequently visiting F1 paddocks and championing environmental causes and tributes to motorsport icons, such as Ayrton Senna.
As the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix approached, media speculation intensified regarding Vettel’s possible return to Red Bull in a new capacity. Current Red Bull star and reigning champion Max Verstappen was asked for his thoughts on the possibility during a press conference, and he was quick to offer praise and openness to the idea.
“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?” Verstappen said. “I think also Seb always kept a really good relationship with Helmut anyway, even when he left.”
Verstappen continued by saying he wasn’t previously aware of the continued connection between Vettel and Marko, but emphasized, “I’m sure that there’s always a space for Seb in any kind of form.”
While Verstappen seems fully supportive of Vettel rejoining the team in some role, Vettel himself has responded to the rumours with caution. Speaking to Austria’s ORF TV’s Sport am Sonntag podcast, Vettel confirmed that any talks about an official return have been preliminary. “It’s not yet that intensive or in-depth,” he said. “It’s perhaps something that could play a role. In what form remains to be seen.”
Although nothing is official yet, both the tone from Verstappen and Vettel’s own statements suggest that a return to Red Bull in an advisory role could be a real possibility for the near future—marking a new chapter in Vettel’s remarkable Formula 1 journey.
Keywords: Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Helmut Marko, S
enior Advisor Role.
