Helmut Marko names F1 champion as ‘ideal’ Red Bull successor

Red Bull Motorsport Consultant Dr. Helmut Marko revealed his pick for his successor at Milton Keynes in the near future.

Helmut Marko names F1 champion as ‘ideal’ Red Bull successor

Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen (via Red Bull)

Dr. Helmut Marko has served as Red Bull’s Motorsport Consultant for over two decades. The 81-year-old played a pivotal role in bringing the energy drinks giant to Formula 1 in 2005. Since then, the Austrian has continued to enjoy immense influence over Milton Keynes, including driver decisions. However, Marko has now hinted at his potential successor.

The Red Bull advisor was recently asked if four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel could be a good fit for his role at the team. Helmut Marko reckoned that the German driver could indeed be the ideal candidate to be his successor at Milton Keynes. Vettel was the first driver from the Red Bull driver program to win the F1 title. He won four consecutive championships during his dominant years at the Austrian team.

I think he would be the ideal successor candidate.

Helmut Marko told Sky Germany
YouTube video

Marko insisted that someone like Sebastian Vettel would certainly be the right person to take over his role at Red Bull. The 81-year-old pointed out that the 37-year-old was already prepared to handle the task of running a junior program, citing Vettel’s current training program for women in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, Helmut Marko pointed out that the German driver would be a good leader when it came to making strategic calls for Red Bull’s F1 operations as well.

Of course, it would be great if a guy like Sebastian could take over. You have the side of the junior program, he’s already working with girls here in the go-karts in Saudi Arabia. On the other side, of course, there’s the great strategic leadership of his Formula 1 team.

Helmut Marko explained

Additionally, the Red Bull motorsport consultant acknowledged that age was starting to affect him. With F1’s long calendar only becoming more tiring for the 18-year-old. Marko confessed that he would need to stop his duties at some point in the near future.

It is clear that at some point you can no longer do it, not least because of your age. Because those travel efforts are no small thing.

Helmut Marko added

Helmut Marko asserts Sebastian Vettel will be upto speed

Sebastian Vettel has spent quite a while away from Formula 1 since retiring at the end of 2022. The German driver has mostly stayed away from the public eye. Although, he has done demonstration runs in classic F1 careers to promote sustainable fuels. Vettel had eyed a comeback to racing previously, in and outside of Formula 1. Unfortunately, no discussions were successful.

Sebastian Vettel's Race for Women initiative
Sebastian Vettel’s Race for Women initiative (via Autosport)

When it comes to the role of an advisor to Red Bull. Helmut Marko was confident that Vettel will need no time to settle in. The Austrian insisted that the four-time world champion will be in full control within just a span of two races. Helmut Marko even commented that the German driver had found his true self since bidding farewell to Formula 1.

I don’t think he needs a year. That’s two races and then he has it under control. But this is a new approach and I think Sebastian has found himself now.

Helmut Marko stated

The 81-year-old reckoned that Sebastian Vettel knows what he wants to do in the coming years. Despite laying low and expressing his love for nature, Marko asserted that motor racing was still Vettel’s biggest passion. He further highlighted that the 37-year-old could simply combine his interests once he takes up such a role in the future.

He knows what he wants to do in the future and that is first and foremost motor racing. He may be a forest owner in Austria with his own hunting grounds, but you can combine all that

Helmut Marko said

So far, Sebastian Vettel has not made any comments over potentially joining any F1 team in a managerial role. The German driver would certainly be the perfect fit for Red Bull considering his experience as well as his history with Milton Keynes. However, fans will need to wait to see whether such a dream return to Red Bull is on the cards for the four-time world champion.