Horner: Vettel 'annoyingly good' at anything he does

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Red Bull team boss Christian Horner is predicting a successful life for Sebastian Vettel after Formula 1, as his former driver is "annoyingly good" at anything he chooses to do.

Vettel bowed out of the sport last November in Abu Dhabi after spending over 15 years at the pinnacle of motorsport, a presence that yielded 53 Grand Prix wins and four world titles, all of which were achieved with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013.

The 35-year-old German has so far made no mention of where life will take him next, but Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko isn't dismissing the possibility of Vettel returning to F1 and assuming a "top management" role with the energy drink company.

And Horner believes that Vettel is well-suited for such a task.

"He’s a great people person," said the Red Bull chief. "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 on what he wishes to apply himself to.

"He’s one of those guys that’s annoyingly good at anything he chooses to do. So I’m sure if he chooses that path he would be very good at it."

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Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack, Vettel's most recent boss in F1, echoed Horner's comments.

"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," Krack said.

"So I think he could be a good one, yeah."

©Ferrari

As for former Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto, the Swiss-Italian looked back fondly on the six years he spent alongside Vettel at the Scuderia during which he witnessed first hand his driver's human qualities.

"At Ferrari, we have been lucky to have him as part of the team and it has been six important years," said Binotto.

"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."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.