F1 team ask Sebastian Vettel to make shock return to the sport three years after retirement

A top Formula One team has asked motorsports legend Sebastian Vettel to make a spectacular return to the sport.

Having won four Driver's Championship titles and an incredible 53 races throughout his career, F1 legend Vettel decided to retire three years ago at the end of the 2022 season.

Since then, the German has taken a step away from motorsports, instead choosing to spend most of his time focusing on campaigning about environmental issues.

However, Vettel has been offered a massive chance to return to Formula One in the near future, as one of the top F1 teams has offered him a huge role.

Ever since Red Bull entered F1 back in 2005, Helmut Marko has held one of the most senior positions at the team, including running the team's junior program that brought through talents like Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz and Daniel Ricciardo.

However, at the age of 81, it's likely that the Austrian's time in Formula One will come to an end in the near future, and he thinks that Vettel would be the perfect man to replace him at Red Bull.

“I think he would be the ideal successor candidate,” Marko told Sky Germany.

“It is clear that at some point you can no longer do it, not least because of your age. Because those travel efforts are no small thing.

“Of course, it would be great if a guy like Sebastian could take over. You have the side of the junior program, he’s already working with girls here in the go-karts in Saudi Arabia. On the other side, of course, there’s the great strategic leadership of his Formula 1 team.”

Sebastian Vettel retired from Formula One in 2022. (Image: Getty)

Marko also shooed off any concerns that Vettel may take some time to get up to speed with the demands of being the head of Red Bull's driver development programme, and insisted that it's the job that Vettel would want to do.

“I don’t think he needs a year,” Marko added. “That’s two races and then he has it under control. But this is a new approach and I think Sebastian has found himself now."

“He knows what he wants to do in the future and that is first and foremost motor racing.