“Get a top car somewhere”
Formula 1 celebrity suspects conditions for Vettel’s comeback
April 19, 2024, 11:00 a.m
Is Sebastian Vettel following in the footsteps of Michael Schumacher? The four-time Formula 1 world champion is flirting with a comeback. Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko is sure that the interest is serious. But it is questionable whether the conditions can be met.
Exactly 15 years ago to the day, Sebastian Vettel gave Red Bull the first Formula 1 victory in team history in Shanghai, and according to Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko, the four-time world champion is very keen on the premier class again – if the conditions are right. “I think he wants it when he sees the chance to get a top car somewhere. Then he’s ready for it,” said Marko on Sky.
Vettel resigned after the 2022 season; he mainly wanted to spend more time with his family. The Heppenheim native, who will turn 37 in July, has three children. He never completely ruled out a return to Formula 1 – like his role model and friend Michael Schumacher. In the first year after his retirement he took part in show races or demonstrated legendary Formula 1 cars. At the end of March he tested an endurance racing car for Porsche. Recently, Vettel himself had flirted with resigning in several interviews. Since Mercedes has been looking for a successor to record world champion Lewis Hamilton for the coming season, the name Vettel has been mentioned more and more in the Formula 1 cosmos.
However, Marko also has concerns: Vettel has been “out of the window for over a year now – and there are no longer that many top seats.” However, the door is closed at Red Bull, as Marko recently made clear. World champion Max Verstappen has a contract with the industry leader until 2028. Sergio Perez’s contract is expiring, but if the Mexican “does as good a job as he is currently doing,” emphasized Marko on the sidelines of the Chinese Grand Prix (Sunday, 9 a.m./Sky and in the ntv.de live ticker)then a change in this position is “not an issue”.
Sainz as a competitor for Vettel
According to media reports, Vettel will not make a comeback in Formula 1 in a Mercedes, as his great idol Michael Schumacher once did. At Ferrari, where Vettel already drove but missed out on another title, both places for next year’s season have already been given to regular driver Charles Leclerc and the changing Hamilton.
Carlos Sainz is currently without a contract for the coming season and has to make way for Hamilton. Marko admitted to the “Kleine Zeitung” that he had negotiated with the Spaniard, who was already driving for the then Red Bull junior team Toro Rosso. According to Marko, Sainz has an offer from Sauber (Audi from 2026) that they cannot keep up with. Sauber team boss Alessandro Alunni Bravi did not want to comment on the speculation on Friday.