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Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz is open to the possibility of bringing Sebastian Vettel back to the team for 2021, according to reports.
Vettel is on the market for next year after Ferrari opted not to extend his contract beyond the 2020 season, with Carlos Sainz signing a two-year deal as Charles Leclerc's teammate.
Rumours in the last week have heavily linked Vettel with a switch to Racing Point, who will become Aston Martin next year.
However, new reports have also suggested that Red Bull is keen on bringing Vettel back to the energy drink squad, where the German found championship success from 2010 to 2013.
Sky Sports Italy states that Mateschitz has already spoken with Vettel and that Dr Helmut Marko has been informed of the situation.
Should Vettel re-join Red Bull, he would be paired up with Max Verstappen, who signed a multi-year extension with the team earlier this year.
In Austria, Vettel admitted that he would “probably say yes” to any offer that came from Red Bull and that he would not be phased by going up against Verstappen.
The report regarding a potential Vettel return to Rec Bull comes as Alexander Albon is seemingly struggling at the team, failing to progress into Q2 at the Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session.
MORE: Russell: Red Bull making Albon 'look like an idiot'
Earlier this week, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner defended Albon, saying that those who criticised the Thai-Britsh driver have short memories.
Horner stated during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend that Red Bull is committed to its existing driver pairing which “has great potential for the future as well”.
Vettel has long asserted that he is in no rush to make a decision regarding his future in the sport.
Grand Prix of Belgium
C. Sainz jr
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Replies (8)
Login to replyPistonhead
Posts: 556
And yesterday will not have helped Albon focus - I wonder whether he was aware of those rumours.....
xoya
Posts: 583
Oh no.
Max will wipe the floor with him.
I wouldn't do it if I was him.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I'd do it any day if I were Vettel. Yeah, Max could wipe the floor, but he'll be in a competitive car and in a team he is familiar with and car philosophy he likes. Likewise, while Albon is allegedly very good at providing feedback, Vettel's experience will be very convenient for them.
As for Albon, if this is a thing, then RB will begin the whole "not support him" thing now, very slowly and will ramp it up over time. Albon don't deserve that kinda stuff, but it is what RB has been doing again and again . Like the team, like their car and Honda, but RB's upper management is as wicked as Bobby Kotick himself.
Dert38
Posts: 377
i hope they crash their asses. rb. what a disgusting story in f1. i've seen a lot of people only stopping watching f1 because of retarded vettel/rb duo...
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
There's nothing wrong with the team itself though. I like RB, I just can't stand the bosses.
Dert38
Posts: 377
Of cause they would make Max second pilot ))))))))))))
MarkZ
Posts: 31
No wonder rb is leaving Alex out to dry
f1ski
Posts: 726
RBR the car is 3rd fastest. Max is top 3 driver easily. He is one of the few who can bring the car up to a pace beyond his teammate. Albon finished 5th. Right where he should be. Danny Ricciardo out did Vettel in his last year. Vettel needs a car set up a certain way Lewis Max and Ricciardo can drive a less than perfect car. Vettel won't do as well as Albon.