Dr Helmut Marko has dismissed rumours about Sebastian Vettel potentially returning to Formula 1 with Audi.

The Osterreich newspaper had earlier reported based on Marko's comments that the former four-time world champion, who has retired, could be in discussions with Audi-owned Sauber.

Marko, an 80-year-old Red Bull F1 advisor, clarified his statements in an interview with Auto Bild.

"It's no longer a secret that Sebastian asked one or two top teams about free cockpits," Marko commented. "With regard to Audi, however, I generally spoke about the positive effect of a German driver and also mentioned Mick Schumacher.

"But this name was apparently forgotten in the report."

Marko acknowledged that Vettel, who claimed his four championships with Red Bull and later raced for Ferrari and Aston Martin, had approached both Red Bull and Mercedes.

"Sebastian has been gone for two years," Marko observed. "(Nico) Hulkenberg had been gone for even longer, but he is not a four-time world champion, so he is even hungrier."

"And to be honest: Sebastian next to Max (Verstappen) in the Red Bull - I didn't want to put him through that."

In a related development, another racer, Alex Palou, was recently rumoured to be linked with Sauber-Audi. Palou, an Indycar racer with previous F1 aspirations, refuted these claims in a statement to the Indianapolis Star newspaper.

"It's all fake," he asserted. "I know you cannot take my word, but I promise. It's all fake."

"I've had no contact with Audi. Zero."

Meanwhile, Sport1 reported that Audi is in talks to secure F1 sponsorship deals with either Adidas or Puma.