Christian Horner, Red Bull team boss, believes his former driver Sebastian Vettel would succeed in anything he decides to pursue in the future, claiming he’s annoyingly good at anything he chooses to do.
The quadruple Formula 1 Champion decided to retire at the end of the 2022 season, after 17 seasons over which he amasses 53 wins and 57 pole positions.
Vettel’s plans post F1 remain a mystery for now, with many fellow drivers contemplating what he would do next, Lewis Hamilton insisting he will be back soon in F1, while Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s advisor and Vettel’s mentor even hinting his former protégé may even replace him in the future when he retires.
Asked whether Vettel can take up an F1 managerial role, Christian Horner responded: “He’s a great people person. He understands the value of people and the contribution that they make to success.
“And I think he’s turned into somewhat of a driver counsellor in the last couple of years as well. So, it really depends what he wishes to apply himself to,” Horner added, probably referring to how Vettel mentored Mick Schumacher recently.
“He’s one of those guys that’s annoyingly good at anything he chooses to do. So I’m sure if he chose that path he would be very good at it,” the Briton pointed out.
Vettel has what it takes
Vettel’s most recent team boss, Mike Krack wouldn’t speculate whether the 35-year-old would go into management, but believes he has what it takes to succeed should choose to go down that path.
“I don’t know if he wants to do that. But I think he has the personality and all the skill… [that] I think the ones that are needed to do that. So I think he could be a good one, yeah,” Krack said.
As for Mattia Binotto, the man who gave Vettel his marching orders at Ferrari back in 2020, the now former Ferrari team boss hailed the driver who won 14 races for the Scuderia.
Binotto said: “At Ferrari, we have been lucky to have him as part of the team and it has been six important years. He brought a lot as a driver but more than that, I think he brought a lot as a person – and each single Ferrari fan still loves Sebastian. I think that’s a matter of fact.
“I think… all the people in Ferrari are still loving him and that’s the way we are feeling. They have been incredible years, I think,” the Swiss-born Italian reflected.
Binotto might not have said it straight on, but the positive traits he highlighted in Vettel’s character mean that he would be successful in an F1 managerial job. Is that what the future hold for Vettel?