Sebastian Vettel left a void in F1 after announcing his retirement last season. An irreplaceable driver and a fan favorite, Vettel had made a mark on the sport. Additionally, aware of his impact, Vettel used his platform to speak out on topics that mattered most to him like human rights, and more predominantly, the quest to save the environment in any way he can. However, Red Bull taskmaster Helmut Marko believes he would have to give up on the latter to return to the sport.
Vettel’s initiatives within the sport remain fresh in everyone’s minds. The driver helped clean up the grandstands after the 2021 British GP, built a hotel for bees, and wore extensively colorful t-shirts and helmets with a message to the masses.
Even today, after his retirement, Vettel makes casual appearances on the track, like at the Silverstone tire test, to drive his F1 cars on carbon-neutral fuel. ‘There is still a race to win’ for Vettel, but it’s not necessarily in F1, at least in the larger context.
On the other hand, the sport calls to him. Vettel is open to making a return to the paddock, in some advisory or management role with Red Bull. However, Marko lists out his conditions and there is just one.
Red Bull boss explains conditions for Sebastian Vettel’s F1 return
Helmut Marko had also discussed the possibility of welcoming Vettel back home to Red Bull in the future, whenever the German was ready. However, now, in a recent interview in Hungary, Marko explains the moral dilemma Vettel faces.
As reported by Speedweek.com, Marko asserted, “I don’t know if Sebastian will return. He has to find himself first. And he must confess because there will always be internal combustion engines in Formula 1.”
Marko further stated, “Trees grow in the forest, that’s a good thing. That’s where I differ from him because I do forest care in my forest.” [translated]
One would assume that after an over decade-long F1 career, Vettel would turn a blind eye. But that’s where Marko might have hit the nail on the head. Over the course of his journey as a driver and his growth as a person of the world, Vettel was opened to the harsh realities of the impact of the sport.
Even openly admitting to being a hypocrite, Vettel remains passionate about doing the best he can to give back to the planet. Thus, the chances of him ever returning to the paddock in a professional capacity remain nil.
Vettel’s open criticism of F1
Vettel addressed the accusations of him being a hypocrite. Alberta’s energy minister had called him out: “‘I have seen a lot of hypocrisy, but this takes the cake. A race car driver for Aston Martin, with financing from Saudi Aramco, complaining about the oilsands? Perhaps a pedal car for Formula One?”
Vettel calmly responded, “In the end, we are all hypocrites. I am probably more of a hypocrite than you with the life that I lead in terms of traveling the world, racing fast cars for joy, but I think every single one of us has a responsibility. We only have one shot at this.”
However, Vettel has been the voice of reason in the sport. Being vocal about the consequences of F1, Vettel had stated, “If Formula 1 controls itself, that’s a nice slogan but not particularly credible. In the end, it is important that you are also prepared to take a slice of your own profits in order to take credible steps with it.”
Thus, the passion for this cause runs strong for Vettel. A man of his word, surely it’s not something Vettel would drop just to get out of retirement. Instead, it’s likely that the Red Bull champion will instead be a champion for the environment with the various projects he has undertaken in his time off.
