'It never gained any traction' – Vettel says serious talks over Red Bull role never materialised after Horner exit

Sebastian Vettel has admitted that previous talks for him to potentially take on a position within Red Bull “never gained any traction”, though the four-time World Champion conceded that he is open to the possibility of returning to the sport should the “right opportunity” present itself.

Since retiring from F1 at the end of 2022 – bringing an end to a career that brought four World Championships, 53 wins and 299 Grand Prix starts – Vettel has focused on raising awareness for various causes, with a particular focus on the environment.

However, the 38-year-old – who was promoting the F1REST project whilst attending the Sao Paulo Grand Prix over the weekend – continues to follow Formula 1 and, during an interview with Sky Sports F1 at Interlagos, gave his take on the sudden exit of Red Bull’s former Team Principal Christian Horner in July.

“Surprised,” Vettel said of his reaction to the news regarding the team that he won all four of his titles with between 2010 and 2013. “Christian has been there for so long, since the very beginning, and knows this team inside out. I think for this year everything was in place.

“I know Laurent [Mekies] as well, the successor, and I’ve worked with him and he’s a really, really great person, but I think Christian left some big footsteps. Not just because of all the success he’s had with the team, but also I think he was such a central part of the team – he knew what was going on and so on.

“I’m not completely aware of the organisation, the structure, and especially the plan for the future, but that’s where I think it’s valid to say, let’s wait and see how it turns out.”

Pushed on whether he himself could be part of that future, Vettel – who was previously linked to potentially succeeding Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko – responded: “I don’t know, I read as well there was a lot of talk about it and so on, and I did speak with Helmut a little bit, but it never got anywhere, never gained any traction.”

While Vettel is enjoying his current situation post-retirement, the German has not ruled out the chance of taking on a position within the F1 world one day.

“I think for me, I’m fairly happy where I am in life right now,” he explained. “I love Formula 1. In the beginning I thought, I’m not sure whether I want to keep watching because I need to get a distance and so on.

“But I watch the races and I follow, and I love it because I just love the sport. I know the guys as well so I’m still close in that way.

“I don’t know, if the right opportunity, position, perspective, whatever, turns up or could turn up, maybe there’s a role that I could be happy to step up to. Time will tell.”