Vettel F1 team principal verdict issued after Horner Red Bull sacking

1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has issued a surprising verdict over Sebastian Vettel's chances of becoming Red Bull's F1 team principal in the future.

The four-time champion enjoyed the most dominant period of his career with the outfit previously run by Christian Horner, claiming four back-to-back drivers' titles between 2010 and 2013.

However, Vettel's Red Bull era stands in stark contrast to the state the Milton Keynes-based squad currently find themselves in, with their decline in performance continuing as reigning champion Max Verstappen continues to lose sight of retaining the title this year.

Following the British GP last time out, Red Bull made the bombshell announcement that team principal Horner had been sacked with immediate effect, with former Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies replacing him.

Ahead of Mekies' first round at the helm at this weekend's Belgian GP, ex-F1 star Villeneuve has stated the Frenchman deserves time to prove himself, especially considering he has much more experience in a team principal role than former Red Bull man Vettel.

Prior to Horner's axing, the German racer had been named by the team's F1 advisor Helmut Marko as his ideal candidate to replace him once the 82-year-old finally leaves the sport, but making the jump straight to team principal would certainly be a challenge even for Vettel.

Speaking to Vision4Sport, Villeneuve said: "Horner's gone. You don't just take anyone, even a world champion, and suddenly, he's a good team principal. It's a very different attitude. Not everyone is cut out for it. Some are and they can be both. And some can't."

Should Vettel become team principal of Red Bull F1 team?

Villeneuve continued to urge Red Bull not to sign Vettel as their team principal, instead issuing the hope that Mekies' wealth of experience in the sport puts him in good stead to take over from Horner.

"There is a new team principal who's been doing a good job over the years. So let's wait and see what he does. You don’t just suddenly take a Vettel and put him in the top team there, in a job that he's never done.

"And he was obviously tired of being inside the F1 paddock. And the role of a team principal is non-stop. You work more days than a race car driver.

"Vettel seems to want to be with his family, he wants to be with his bees, he wants to be with a lot of other things. So, I can't imagine him doing a full-time job," the ex-racer concluded.

For now, Villeneuve can rest over his concerns of Vettel's suitability to become an F1 team principal.

The German recently confirmed he had been in contact with Marko regarding a return to the paddock, although only over the possibility of replacing the Austrian at Red Bull potentially years down the line.

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