Sebastian Vettel has made his demands to Red Bull, explaining that he needs to have a greater understanding of the nature of a new role within his old team. The F1 legend also warned against trying to develop ‘the next Lewis Hamilton or Michael Schumacher’. Vettel has been touted as a successor to Helmut Marko, who has taken a hands-on approach to driver management within the organisation.
However, the German has been largely absent from the F1 paddock since retiring at the end of the 2022 campaign, save for a couple of one-off appearances promoting his charitable causes. Despite this, Vettel is eventually expected to make a fairytale return to his former team, Red Bull, with whom he won four Drivers’ Championship titles, although no time frame for the changeover has been confirmed.
Marko confirmed these intentions himself, telling Sky Germany: I think he [Vettel] would be the ideal successor candidate. 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. Of course, it would be great if a guy like Sebastian could take over. You have the side of the junior programme. He’s already working with girls here in the go-karts in Saudi Arabia. And on the other side, of course, there’s the great strategic leadership of his Formula One team.”
Now, Vettel has laid out the steps that need to be taken for the speculation to become a reality. The 38-year-old also offered a look at how his management style would transform the operations at Milton Keynes.
“I know Helmut very well, and we are also in contact,” Vettel told Auto Motor und Sport. “If this were to become more concrete, I would first have to become aware of what kind of task I would have to do, and a decision would depend heavily on this. I certainly have a certain amount of competence due to my experience and my profile.
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“As a young talent, it can be extremely valuable if someone is there who can help you, but not in the sense that he tells you where you brake, steer or how to take the kerb. [The driver] has to be able to do that themselves; more important is advice in the mental area.
“The four drivers who are at the top of Formula One can all become world champions. In the end, however, it will only be one, and that also has its reason. You can’t change people; you can only expand their strengths and work on their weaknesses.
“You must also not try to form the next Hamilton or Schumacher from a driver, that doesn’t work. It is more about perceiving the person, rather than telling them to accept someone else’s character.”