by While Sebastian Vettel considers trying his hand at rallying, Helmut Marko has reiterated that he would like to see his former Red Bull manager in a Formula 1 management role.
Vettel retired from Formula 1 last season, the 35-year-old said his goals had “shifted from winning races and fighting for championships to watching my kids grow.”
He added: “Dedicating to my passion like I did and the way I think is right [that it] no longer goes hand in hand with my desire to be a great father and husband.”
Often asked about what would come next, the German said he was still undecided, although rumors circulated that he could make a foray into rallying.
However, Marko would like to see him return to the Formula 1 paddock in a team management role one day.
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“I think he needs to find himself first and see what exactly he wants,” the Red Bull motorsport advisor told RTL as Vettel took part in his first post-F1 event in the Race of Champions.
“One of his reasons for leaving was his family life, and if he got into a managerial position at a management level, it would take as much effort, as much travel as it does now.”
It is not the first time the 79-year-old has made that suggestion, but insists it has nothing to do with his past relationship with Vettel.
Rather, Marko says it’s the belief that Vettel would do well in the job “from the lessons learned from what Sebastian Vettel can achieve.
“We know how he works. We know he’s an open-minded, intelligent young man.”
For now, however, Vettel has ruled out both a team boss and a driver-coach role, given the huge commitment required.
“It depends on the role and how serious it is,” he said. “I’m certainly not going to become an expert and tell the guys in the car what they’re doing wrong.”
Whether he is considering rallying, that question was put to the four-time F1 world champion during the Race of Champions.
And it’s one he carefully sidestepped.
“I have a huge admiration for rally drivers, I think it’s an incredible skill,” he said.
“It’s a great sport. There’s the racing element and the skill, but it’s different in many ways. I think the drivers are great and I don’t think they get the spotlight they deserve. Also the discipline – it is very different from sport.
‘So I do not know. I think it would be a lot of work, but maybe something that after a while, when it starts to itch… It would be very different, a huge challenge.”
