Apr.21 - Dr Helmut Marko wouldn't be surprised if former Red Bull champion Sebastian Vettel decides to hang up his helmet mid-season.

The Austrian thinks a generational change has already occurred in Formula 1, with "Verstappen, Leclerc, Norris and Russell" now forming a quartet "that will shape the coming years".

"Hamilton still has a wealth of experience which you could see a lot last year when it came to how he was able to set great times with extremely worn tyres," he told f1-insider.com.

"But there comes a point when the routine can no longer quite keep up with the youthful enthusiasm, verve and pure speed. In the case of Sebastian, there is also the fact that he is certainly the most disadvantaged of all in terms of the car."

Aston Martin is copping the blame for that, and like many points the finger at billionaire team owner Lawrence Stroll.

"My remote diagnosis is that this is still a team sport," said Red Bull's Marko. "You need team spirit and cohesion.

"That's how we have kept our important people on board for a very long time, despite many poaching attempts. Some of those attempts by Aston Martin were successful, but it's no use just poaching individual people and thinking that makes you successful."

Therefore, he thinks 34-year-old Vettel may ultimately decide to quit Formula 1 even before the end of the current season.

"Basically, quitting in the middle of the season doesn't fit the strong character that Sebastian is," said Marko.

"But there must be an improvement from the team soon, otherwise it will become increasingly difficult for him to stay motivated. In any case, it hurts my soul to see a four-time world champion in such a situation."

Marko also dismissed any comparison between Vettel and the great Niki Lauda, who once suddenly quit the sport halfway through a race weekend.

"It was different with Niki," he said. "Unlike Sebastian, he had a more or less competitive car back then. He just realised it didn't work for him anymore.

"It's different with Vettel, who has a two-year contract and is in a bad car. He fights and tortures himself to do better.

"One alternative would be to write off the season now and move on to next year, but even in that case I don't think Vettel wants to bother anymore to help them."


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15 F1 Fan comments on “Mid-season F1 retirement for Vettel possible?

  1. Jere Jyrälä

    LOL. He certainly won't retire during the season, but I doubt he'd even do that post-season as I'm confident he'll continue beyond this season's end. I don't rule out him quitting but view continuation as more likely despite AM's present performance level.

    Reply
  2. matthew

    honestly its ridiculous Seb has not hinted once at retirement at this point starting to believe people are trying to make him quit he is not a quitter yes AM seem bad now Ferrari did too 2 years ago look at them right now it can change quickly and as a Seb fan i am optimistic next year new factory Fallows just came from Red bull and Seb knew it was long term job

    Reply
  3. smokey

    Didn't you know that Helmut Marko received his honorary doctorate in useless information and stupid remarks?
    I don't understand why anyone gives any credibility to anything he says. Marko seeks only to stir controversy and ill feeling amongst the fans. Apart from Red Bull, nobody in the F1 paddock gives him any integrity!

    Reply
      • smokey

        Aahhh .... so you are saying Marko is entitled to air his views to the media concerning someone from another team about whom he has no authority to comment, but we aren't entitled to air our opinions about his stupid remarks.

        If you can't take the heat, you'd better get out of the kitchen!

        Reply
        • John B

          It's people like you who keep stirring up trouble by mouthing off and creating controversy that is not warranted

          You should keep your skewed opinions to yourself

          My kitchen is air conditioned so there is no issue about heat

          My voice will not be silenced by the likes of you

          Reply
          • smokey

            As you stated in your previous rant "We are all entitled to our opinions". Nobody is trying to silence you, and you must not try to silence anyone with your curt remarks! Just pull your head in and try your best to stop being a jerk.
            Just stay in your high chair, I will pick up your dummy (pacifier if you're American), I saw where it went when you spat it out! Obviously you have a very short fuse and no sense of humour!

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