Red Bull should refrain from signing Vettel to take Marko's place.

      "A German motorsport legend has suggested that Red Bull should reconsider their choice for Dr. Helmut Marko's replacement. At 82, Marko is contracted until the end of 2026 amidst speculation that he might leave alongside Max Verstappen, and some rumored ongoing tension with Christian Horner. Marko has acknowledged that retired four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel could be a suitable successor, and the 38-year-old German has also expressed interest.

      "I still have a very good relationship with Helmut and we are in touch, including on this subject," Vettel stated to ORF recently. He emphasized, however, that the talks are "not yet intensive and in-depth." Marko added, "Currently, that's not a matter of concern. There's no reason to get excited. At some point, we will have to consider my successor. There are many potential names, but nothing concrete, and no serious discussions have occurred yet."

      Hans-Joachim Stuck, a former F1 driver, opined that hiring Vettel would be a mistake—both for Red Bull and the driver with 53 Grand Prix victories. "I believe that’s entirely the wrong choice," he shared with Eurosport Deutschland. "This is not a critique of Sebastian, but he simply isn't suited to be a team manager. He would never be a viable option for me."

      Stuck, 74, elaborated further: "A former driver cannot simply step into Helmut’s role. Moreover, Sebastian would not be doing himself any favors by taking on that responsibility—especially at this stage in his life. He retired to spend time with his family. As Marko’s successor, he would find himself back into a job that demands constant attention. He would go to bed thinking about it, dream about it, and wake up focused on it again."

      "The family would be sidelined in such a scenario," Stuck detailed. "Whether he is willing to undertake all that is the significant question."