Helmut Marko names Sebastian Vettel as his "ideal successor" at Red Bull

Helmut Marko named Sebastian Vettel his “ideal successor” as Red Bull’s chief motorsport advisor. The Austrian was instrumental in nurturing some of the sport’s biggest stars of the modern era, including Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz and Daniel Ricciardo. In addition to running the team's junior program, he also took on a key role in the Milton Keynes-based outfit’s senior management team in 2005.

“I think he would be the ideal successor candidate,” Marko told Sky Germany, when speaking about Vettel. “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 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.”

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull RB 7

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Marko insisted that it’s the kind of role Vettel “wants to do in the future” and said he wouldn’t need much time to get up to speed.

“I don’t think he needs a year,” Marko said. “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."

“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,” added Marko, who worked closely with Vettel throughout his F1 career, which culminated in four world drivers' championships with Red Bull.

Since hanging up his racing boots at the end of 2022, Vettel has only made a handful of appearances in the paddock while committing most of his time to environmental causes. Most recently, he jetted into Saudi Arabia to host an event celebrating women in motorsport.