Sebastian Vettel in the wings? Marko names ‘ideal candidate’ to succeed him at Red Bull amid growing team turmoil – While Red Bull Racing is entering one of its most uncertain periods since its rise to dominance, an equally seismic question is looming behind the scenes: who will succeed Helmut Marko? The 82-year-old mastermind behind Red Bull’s driver programme and long-standing Head of Motorsport has made it clear that his departure is imminent, but not before he begins shaping the team’s next era.
Now, Marko has revealed that none other than four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel is set to be his successor, dropping the strongest hint yet about the future.
Marko plans to stay in charge until 2026, when the next major regulation cycle begins. However, he has already started laying the groundwork for his eventual departure. In an interview with Austrian broadcaster ServusTV, Marko confirmed that, although the discussions are still in the early stages, the idea of Vettel taking on a senior management role at Red Bull is a genuine possibility that he himself has suggested.
Vettel: ‘An ideal candidate’
“There are no discussions that have gone into detail,” he admitted. “But I still see Sebastian as an ideal candidate.”
This instantly reignited speculation about Vettel’s post-driving future. The German driver, who won all four of his world titles under Marko’s stewardship at Red Bull between 2010 and 2013, has kept in close contact with the team since leaving at the end of 2014. This bond, forged during Red Bull’s most dominant era, remains strong and could soon be repurposed for a very different challenge.
Vettel hints at interest, but downplays immediacy.
Vettel himself has done little to quash the rumours. Speaking recently to Austria’s ORF, he acknowledged that conversations had taken place, albeit without urgency or specific plans.
“The discussion is not yet so intensive or in-depth,” Vettel said. “But that is perhaps something that can play a role. In what form remains to be seen.”
Big shoes to fill
If Vettel sounded cautious, it wasn’t out of disinterest. He has long spoken about his fascination with motorsport beyond the cockpit, and his recent appearances in paddocks, combined with his more outspoken stance on global issues such as sustainability and racial equality, have established him as a potential thought leader for the next phase of the sport. Nevertheless, he is acutely aware of the size of the shoes he would be filling.
“I consider Helmut to be irreplaceable,” Vettel added, in reference to the legacy of the man who discovered, backed and guided him through the infamous Red Bull junior programme to glory.
Succession drama amid performance crisis
While talk of Vettel’s return makes for juicy headlines, Marko was quick to put this into context. Vettel is ‘only one of many’ names under consideration, the Austrian clarified, adding that Red Bull has been surprised by the volume of interest in the role.
“There are surprisingly many applicants,” said Marko. “There are many names on the list.”
However, Marko made it clear that there is no rush to settle the matter. “I’m still relatively fit at the moment,” he added with a grin.
“So it’s not quite as urgent.”
Nevertheless, urgency is a relative term, and there’s no denying that Red Bull is at a critical juncture. The team that once seemed unbeatable has seen its grip on the championship weaken dramatically in recent months. The low point came in Barcelona, where McLaren’s improving performance exposed Red Bull’s vulnerability in a way that could no longer be hidden by Max Verstappen’s talent alone.
Marko didn’t sugarcoat the problem.
‘The gap to McLaren is slowly becoming frightening,” he confessed to Sky after the Spanish Grand Prix.
“Two or three tenths per lap — even Verstappen can’t make up for that, especially not in the long run.”
Tsunoda at risk of Red Bull chop, admits Horner
Red Bull’s Inner Turmoil: A Vacuum of Stability
The on-track deficit is only part of the crisis engulfing Red Bull. Behind closed doors, the team has been plagued by months of internal instability. From public friction between Verstappen’s camp and senior team figures, to power struggles involving team boss Christian Horner, the unity that once defined Red Bull’s success has fractured.
Marko himself has not been immune. Earlier in the year, he was at the centre of rumours suggesting that he could be ousted amid the Horner-led restructuring of Red Bull Racing’s power hierarchy. Although these rumours were ultimately denied and the threat seemingly defused, Marko’s recent announcement of his plans to leave hints at a deeper awareness that a generational shift is inevitable.
In this context, the prospect of Vettel, a driver renowned for his intellect, integrity and political acumen, assuming a leadership role at Red Bull is not just a feel-good reunion, but a potential game-changer. It becomes a potential reset button. It could be a way to restore the culture, reinforce the team’s values, and perhaps recapture the spirit that once made Red Bull a ruthless yet exhilarating championship machine.
Will Vettel take the leap?
The biggest question is whether Vettel ultimately wants the job. So far, he has enjoyed a fulfilling post-racing career that includes environmental advocacy, family life, and various motorsport ventures. Moving into Red Bull’s management structure, especially as a replacement for someone as complex and controversial as Marko, would be a seismic step requiring full commitment and willingness to engage with the relentless political machinery of the sport.
Then again, Vettel has never been one to shy away from a challenge. If the current turbulence at Red Bull continues, the allure of returning to the scene of his greatest triumphs — this time as the architect of the team’s next era, rather than as a driver — may prove irresistible.
For now, all parties are keeping a low profile. But don’t be surprised if the slow-burning narrative of Vettel’s return to Red Bull ignites into a full-blown saga as 2026 approaches. Because if there’s one thing Red Bull loves more than controversy, it’s a comeback story. And who better to write the next chapter than the man who once made them invincible?
MORE F1 NEWS – F1 fans rob Piastri
Farcical calls for F1 change amidst claims Piastri was “robbed” – Formula One is in a new era under the ownership of Liberty Media. Gone are the days when FOM protects all intellectual property rights to the term “F1” and hounds independent websites to change their names due to these rights.
Now F1 marketing is all about interaction with the fans. It is the fans who flood the internet with F1 posts which stir up debate and provide the all important clicks which see the sport hitting the headlines week in and out.
A number of decisions made since Liberty brought out the commercial rights to the sport have been to encourage this fan engagement, one of which is the vote for driver of the day on Sunday. Now a number of approved news outlets are calling for this vote to be dropped given the decisions by the fans this season have often been out of keeping with the ‘expert broadcasters’ views…. READ MORE
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
