Vettel is not the only contender to succeed Marko.

      "There are numerous names as well as many candidates"

      Dr. Helmut Marko has stated that retired quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel is not the sole contender to take over as Red Bull's principal motorsport advisor. Just a few weeks ago, it appeared that Vettel was the perfect choice to succeed the 82-year-old Marko, with both men discussing a smooth transition of leadership. However, the Austrian now indicates that there are indeed "many names" in the pool of potential successors. "Naturally, we need to think about it," Marko responded when Servus TV inquired about the 37-year-old Vettel's candidacy. "Sebastian would be an ideal candidate," he acknowledged, "but there have been no in-depth discussions."

      "There are numerous names and several applicants—however, I'm still quite fit at the moment." Marko continues to attend all 24 grands prix on the Formula 1 calendar despite his age, in addition to managing Red Bull’s renowned and successful junior driver program. In an interview with Speed Week this week, he conceded that Red Bull Racing’s current car is "not enough" for Max Verstappen to clinch a fifth consecutive drivers’ world championship. "Perhaps it just requires a minor adjustment," Marko noted. "We are working diligently on this and will keep making small developments, but no major changes are planned right now," he added.

      "We have already implemented some significant updates, like a new floor and new sidepods. Now, we will concentrate more on the details. We will continue to develop as long as there's a chance in the championship. After that, we will shift our entire focus to the 2026 project," Marko stated.