Max Verstappen would welcome Sebastian Vettel in Red…

Red Bull's four-time world champion Max Verstappen says he would welcome his predecessor Sebastian Vettel at the team in an advisory role.

Earlier this week, Vettel said he was in early talks with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko about the idea of succeeding the 82-year-old Austrian when his contract with the team ends in 2026.

"We’re in contact about this, though maybe not so intensively or in-depth yet, but it’s possible," Vettel told Austrian broadcaster ORF. "What form that might take will have to be seen. He’s already said a few times that he’d stop, but he’s still here, and I wish him all the best so that he stays around for a very long time.

"And I don’t think the goal is to have someone come in who simply replaces him. But maybe, whoever it is, it would be nice if the work he’s put in is carried on."

Verstappen, who mirrored Vettel's trajectory at Red Bull with four consecutive world titles, says he would welcome the German at the team.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing (Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool)

"It's more than normal that someone that has achieved so much with Red Bull, has been brought up by Red Bull ... that in a sense there's always a spot available, right?" Verstappen commented ahead of this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring.

"I think Seb always kept a really good relationship with Helmut anyway, even when he left. I didn't know that of course they were talking, but I'm sure that there's always a space for Seb in any kind of form."

Marko has been involved with Red Bull since the team's beginnings in 2005, initially as the late Dietrich Mateschitz's advisor and later as a key player in its driver management. The Austrian has yet to decide whether he will continue beyond his current deal in 2026, by which point he will be 84.

"The question of succession is one of those questions too... let’s put it this way, there are plenty of people who want to follow," Marko told the Kleine Zeitung this week.

"The profile we need is very broad and very demanding – it's set at the highest level. And the two shareholders, Mark Mateschitz and Chalerm Yoovidhya, are there as well with their own ideas.

"We’re not talking specifically about the position, but [Sebastian] is keeping a very close eye on everything."