Red Bull director Helmut Marko has revealed that a former Formula One star has expressed interest in returning to the sport and replacing number two driver Sergio Perez.
The reigning world champions’ current driver line-up is led by three-time world champion, Max Verstappen, with the experienced Perez alongside him.
Red Bull currently lead the constructors championship by 24 points from second-placed Ferrari, with Verstappen on top of the driver standings, and the Mexican driver in fifth.
It is expected that Perez will be offered a new contract by Red Bull, according to the Mirror, and they are confident he is the right man to continue partnering their star man, Verstappen.
However, despite this, Marko has shared that four-time world champion, Sebastian Vettel, wants to comeback to the team he won all his titles with.
Retired four-time world champion, Sebastian Vettel (left), is reportedly keen on a return to Red Bull
Red Bull director Helmut Marko has revealed that Vettel has enquired about taking Perez’s spot as number two to Max Vertsappen
Max Verstappen (left) and Sergio Perez (right) are currently the driving duo at Red Bull racing
Speaking to German media outlet, Formel1.de, Red Bull’s advisor said: ‘[Vettel] has repeatedly enquired with us, but I don’t think it would be pleasant for him to drive next to Max Verstappen.’
While Marko does not see a return to Red Bull as the right thing for Vettel, he does see a return for to racing in his future.
Marko won Le Mans with Porsche in 1971, and believes that the endurance-based racing format could be the best direction for him to go in, even insinuating he is already on the path to it.
Red Bull’s advisor claimed: ‘If I’m correctly informed, he seems to be moving towards Porsche and long-distance racing. I think that would be a very nice step for him.’
The 36-year-old retired back in 2022 at Aston Martin after completing nearly 300 grand prix’s over a 15-year period in F1.
Vettel raced for BMW Sauber, Toro Rosso, and Ferrari, in addition to his two-year spell at Aston Martin and five years at Red Bull.
The German is the youngest world champion ever in the sport, winning his first title, while at Red Bull, in 2010, at just 23 years of age.
Three more followed in three years, he had reigned supreme in four consecutive seasons by the time he was 26.
Vettel won four drivers’ championships in a row during his five years at Red Bull
Marko has hinted that Vettel may be on his way to Le Mans to race for Porsche instead
After losing out to Lewis Hamilton in 2014, his time at Red Bull came to an end, and with that, his dominance of the drivers’ title.
Vettel remained a constant threat to Mercedes during the German team’s era of dominance, which was led by Hamilton, but he never got his hands won a world title again.
The ex-driver was recently in Imola for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix weekend to commemorate the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, 30 years on, by taking part in a demonstration run.
Speaking to reporters on the race weekend, he addressed whether he is ready to return to the sport.
The retired German driver ‘still very happy’ that he decided to leave the sport despite his reported interest to return
He said: ‘I miss great parts of it, but I don’t wake up in the mornings missing those moments on the podium when people shout your name.
‘I think I’m quite realistic about life and trying to take on new challenges. I’m content and there are a lot of things that I miss, but a lot of things that I don’t miss.
‘It was a tough call when I made it but I was thinking about coming back and I know beforehand that I would. But in the end nothing has changed, so I’m still very happy with my decision.’