Sebastian Vettel should return to Red Bull and team up with Max Verstappen, says Bernie Ecclestone

Sebastian Vettel should head back to Red Bull to show the world how fast he can be in the present day, according to Bernie Ecclestone.

The German won all four of his F1 world championship titles to date at Red Bull between 2010 and 2013, prior to his move to Ferrari.

But he struggled to make an impact there and moved to Aston Martin before the start of the 2021 season, in which he claimed only a sole podium at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix by finishing second in Baku.

German driver Sebastian Vettel should head back to Red Bull, according to Bernie Ecclestone

Ecclestone claims he cannot show how fast he is because Aston Martin are ‘not competitive’

Vettel admitted in December he had considered retiring from the sport before committing to Aston Martin again for the 2022 season by signing a one-year extension in September last year.

But former F1 boss Ecclestone believes the 34-year-old should be the one to determine when he quits – and thinks linking up with Max Verstappen at Red Bull may hand him a new lease of life.

Asked when Vettel should retire, Ecclestone told German outlet Sport1: ‘When he feels like it. He shouldn’t be told he’s got to retire.

‘We don’t know how quick he is any more because he’s not in a competitive car – so it’s not easy to say he’s not as quick as he used to be.

Ecclestone believes return to the team where he won four world titles could revive him

‘He needs to be back in Red Bull, actually.’

Vettel experienced a mixed first season with Aston Martin, finishing 12th in the final drivers’ standings with 43 points.

He was also denied a second podium finish in the 2021 season when he was disqualified after the Hungary Grand Prix because his car failed to provide the one litre sample of fuel required.

Vettel has also spoken out about how he feels F1 is not evolving quickly enough into becoming a more environmentally-friendly sport, leading to speculation he would walk away to focus his efforts on campaigning for that and LGBTQ issues. 

A return to Red Bull would see him link up with current world champion Max Verstappen

But speaking to F1-Insider last month, Vettel insisted ‘the fire is still burning’. 

‘Of course, sometimes you ask yourself the question of meaning. I’d be lying if I said the thought hadn’t crossed my mind yet,’ he said.

‘But I don’t go on just to convey messages. Then I wouldn’t be true to myself and I wouldn’t be as good.

‘If I no longer feel the inner drive and ambition and only stick to it to convey messages or increase the bank balance, that would be a betrayal of the generation that is yet to come and live the dream.

‘After all, I can still take care of certain issues when I’m no longer driving. But the fire is still burning.’

Vettel managed just one podium finish in the 2021 season at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix