Time for Sebastian Vettel to Step In and Help Save Red Bull

Christian Horner and Helmut Marko have overseen the Red Bull Formula 1 programme, dreamt up and financed by the late billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz. Together, they built one of the most formidable teams in the history of our sport.

Horner remains the longest-serving team principal in Formula 1, and I think maybe, apart from team owners like Colin Chapman and Ken Tyrrell, no one has headed a team for longer than Horner.

As of today, under the over two-decade-long double-headed leadership, Red Bull drivers have celebrated on Grand Prix podiums on 285 occasions, 123 times as winners and between Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, they won eight F1 Drivers' world championships with the team and contributed to the six F1 Constructors' titles.

But all great things come to an end. Red Bull has lost some of its heavy-hitters. The results this year are only because of the genius of Verstappen. The RB21 is not an easy piece of kit to drive. Sh!tbox springs to mind. which only the four-time F1 world champion can make quickly, but it's not looking good for the title defender.

And to be fair, amid all the “crisis, what crisis” spin-doctoring, you have to think long term. Where is the team going? Where is the next generation of leaders coming from?

I always thought Sebastian Vettel, when he retired from Formula 1, would have been a great asset on the other side of the fence. Not in media, but in administration, leadership, or even team management.

Maybe it is time for Seb to give up the tree-hugging, making the world better for bees, and saving the planet. He’s done all he can there — and I’m sure he will continue to do so — but now that his kids are probably being cycled to school, he must be finding himself twiddling his thumbs.

While he does so, the great team that took him to four Formula One World Championship titles could do with someone of his character becoming involved.

Drivers who are greats often have much more to offer after they quit racing — especially on a PR front. Think Jackie Stewart, who fronted for Ford many years after he stopped racing; Michael Schumacher, who contributed enormously to Ferrari; and of course Niki Lauda, who did the same for Ferrari and later Mercedes.

Right now, he could plug in to see how the whole thing operates under Marko and Horner — Horner on the team side, and Marko running the driver pipeline that, let’s face it, is broken. Yes, Red Bull's ruthless driver programme launched a lot of careers, but it also curtailed many.

I'm not alone in this thinking. Johnny Herbert came out this week and told the media team at Beste Online Casino Nederland that Vettel should have a place at Red Bull, if not now, then at some point in the future.

Herbert said: "This would be a great story if Sebastian Vettel replaced Helmut Marko and I think he would do a great job. But, it is a lot of travelling and a lot of commitment because it would mean being away from his young family. I hope he does to the job as it would be good for F1.

"For Marko, there's always going to be a point where he may want to move or stop as he gets older. He clearly still loves the sport and loves to be involved. But, it will also stir the pot at what looks like an unsettled Red Bull," ventured Herbert.

Horner will probably survive longer, especially if the team remains good with Ford as their new partner. Marko, whose allegiance has always been to Max Verstappen, will probably hang around until Verstappen leaves Red Bull. When that day comes, it will mark the end of an era for drivers at the team.

By then, either Horner or Marko — or both — may decide to quit. Vettel, if involved ASAP, would have gathered valuable inside knowledge of the operation. Sebastian Vettel is a natural to lead Red Bull into the future.

I wonder if Red Bull scion Mark Dietrich and his MD Oliver Mintzlaff have thought about succession, and the future of the team beyond the current management. If not they should, and give Seb a ring while they are at it.