Vettel opens up about his future options in F1 (Update)

Vettel's options in F1 are none. No one wants him. He's done after 2020

UPDATE (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has once again dashed Sebastian Vettel's hopes of a return to Red Bull next year.

This week, rumors gained steam that the energy drink company's boss Dietrich Mateschitz had given Marko the green light to rescue the Ferrari refugee's career.

Indeed, the 33-year-old quadruple world champion confirmed on Thursday that he would accept a deal.

"It's a winning car, and as I said earlier, I'm here to compete, I'm here to win, so probably the answer would be yes," Vettel said in Austria.

However, Marko swiftly threw cold water on the plan.

"We have no place for Vettel," he told Auto Motor und Sport on Thursday.

"We have Albon and we are also happy with him. Albon is also half Thai and Red Bull is 51 percent Thai," Marko added.

Marko suggests Vettel should consider retiring instead.

"If I was him I would take a year off and look at the matter from the outside for a better overview, and maybe he likes the life with his family so much that he gets out completely," he said.

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen retracted his earlier claim that he would be happy to share the Red Bull team with Vettel.

"I was just trying to be polite and nice by saying I could imagine it," said the Dutchman. "I think at the moment the team is very happy with both of us and I am really happy with Alex as teammate."

Racing Point – set to become Aston Martin – is another option for Vettel, but both Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez are already under contract for 2021.

"Everything is an option at the moment," Vettel insists. "Carry on, have a break or retire. As I said I haven't made any decision yet."

Vettel also ruled out quitting Ferrari before the end of the season.

"I want to give everything at Ferrari until the end. I owe it to those in the team who gave everything for me," he said.

07/09/20 In a Sky Sports interview Sebastian Vettel has revealed that he held talks with Renault before they confirmed Fernando Alonso for 2021, while also admitting he would be open to a return to Red Bull once he leaves Ferrari at the end of the year.

In a detailed and candid discussion about his Formula 1 future, the four-time world champion also refused to close the door on Racing Point being an option, nor taking a sabbatical or retiring from the sport for good.

Red Bull?

Would Red Bull displace Albon for Vettel?

"I've been such a long time in the paddock that I know a couple of people so yes I did [have talks]," said Vettel ahead of this weekend's Styrian GP.

"But obviously at no point concrete enough, or fundamental talks or real talks. As you've seen, they've gone a different direction.

"It doesn't change much for me, it really depends on my decision, that I'm not pressured to take in the next couple of days, and I want to take the time that I need to decide."

"I think generally I'm of the conviction that if you want to win you have to take on anyone," said Vettel about the prospect of going head-to-head with Verstappen.

"I once again know the team very, very well from my past, so of course I'm still in contact with a lot of the people there, whether it's Christian Horner, Helmut Marko or others.

"Red Bull has a winning car, I believe, so they are a very strong team, I know how strong they are from the past. Obviously a part of the team is not the same anymore and the team has evolved so it's not fair to say I know the team inside out because it also has changed and moved on.

"But I know why they were strong back then and they are still I think a contender and it's a car you can win races in, so for sure that would be interesting."

"I think it's a winning car, and I'm here to compete, I'm here to win, so probably the answer would be yes [if the offer was made]."

Verstappen, however, backed Albon to remain as his team-mate.

"I was sitting next to Seb on a TV show on Monday when I got this question and I was just trying to be polite saying I could imagine it, but I think at the moment the team is very happy with both of us," said the Dutchman.

"And I have to say I am really happy with Alex as a team-mate. He's first of all a very nice guy in the team which is really good for everyone, good with setups, and he's a fast guy.

"So I don't think there is any reason to change and I think Christian and Helmut can back that up. But I don't know. It's also not up to me at the end of the day to decide these kind of things."

What about Racing Point for Vettel? Not Going to Happen

There is 0.00000% chance Vettel will replace Lance Stroll. His father bought the team so he would have a guaranteed seat

Behind Red Bull the next fastest team on the grid who don't have both slots filled for 2021 would appear to be Racing Point, who will become Aston Martin next year and have lofty ambitions.

Sergio Perez is signed up long-term, although Lance Stroll – the son of the team's owner Lawrence – is not.

"Obviously the race is now extremely important for myself and then we will see in the next couple of weeks, months what is happening, what opportunities there might be," said Vettel when asked about Racing Point.

"Independent from that, I think Racing Point left a very strong impression and certainly are in a good place for this year.

"I know part of the team, I know some members of the team quite well from my past and for a long time so I think it's obviously a good opportunity this year to have a good car to fight with and try and improve that from there."

3 Options for Vettel

"I haven't at this stage made a decision yet," he said about his 2021 decision. "I'm not taking any pressure. We've all seen that Fernando is coming back which I think is good for F1 so we'll see how he gets on.

"But looking at myself, I'll take the time that I need to take a decision for myself first.

"Everything is an option at the moment: Carry on, have a break, or retire. But as I said I haven't made the decision yet so it depends on what options are around."