Marko to leave Red Bull at end of year

Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko has decided to leave the team, bringing to an end over two decades of influence as part of the multiple championship-winning set-up.

Marko helped develop young talents through his own team and then in partnership with Red Bull in the early 2000s, prior to Red Bull entering F1 in 2005. From that point onwards he was an advisor across both Red Bull and its sister team – now called Racing Bulls – often identifying and signing young drivers to become future options for the Red Bull F1 program.

The 82-year-old Austrian was a close friend of Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz, who died in 2022, and Marko’s position was under threat during 2024 after a power struggle with then-team principal Christian Horner. Despite ultimately outlasting Horner this year, Marko as now confirmed he will leave his position at the end of the year.

“I have been involved in motorsport for six decades now, and the past 20-plus years at Red Bull have been an extraordinary and extremely successful journey,” Marko said. “It has been a wonderful time that I have been able to help shape and share with so many talented people. Everything we have built and achieved together fills me with pride.

“Narrowly missing out on the world championship this season has moved me deeply and made it clear to me that now is the right moment for me personally to end this very long, intense, and successful chapter. I wish the entire team continued success and am convinced that they will be fighting for both world championship titles again next year.”

Having been seen as a key ally to Red Bull’s four-time world champion Max Verstappen, Marko will depart as the team is now led by Laurent Mekies, who took over from Horner as team principal in July.

Known for both his impressive ability to uncover talents that can reach F1 and his often ruthless approach to underperforming drivers, Marko has never been far from controversy. He had to apologize for comments made relating to Sergio Perez’s ethnicity in 2023, and drew criticism in some quarters for branding Isack Hadjar’s tearful reaction to his pre-race crash on his F1 debut in Australia as “embarrassing”.

Red Bull also had to put out a statement saying it sincerely regretted the online abuse aimed at Kimi Antonelli following the Qatar Grand Prix just over a week ago, when Marko repeatedly said the Mercedes rookie had intentionally let Lando Norris through late in the race. The team stated that the claims from Marko were “clearly incorrect”.

Marko has also seen his influence on the young driver program impacted by changes to the structure in recent seasons – with Guillaume Rocquelin taking on a prominent role three years ago – but Red Bull’s CEO of corporate projects and investments Oliver Mintzlaff says the departure was one he didn’t want to accept.

“Helmut approached me with the wish to end his role as motorsport advisor at the end of the year,” Mintzlaff said. “I deeply regret his decision, as he has been an influential figure for more than two decades, and his departure marks the end of an extraordinary era.

“Over more than 20 years, Helmut has earned incomparable merits for our team and the entire Red Bull motorsport family. He played a decisive role in all key strategic decisions that made Red Bull Racing what it is today: a multiple world champion, an engine of innovation, and a cornerstone of international motorsport.

“His instinct for exceptional talent not only shaped our junior program but also left a lasting impact on Formula 1 as a whole. Names like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen stand for the many drivers who were discovered, supported, and guided to the very top under his leadership. His passion, his courage to make clear decisions, and his ability to spot potential will remain unforgettable.

“After a long and intensive conversation, I knew I had to respect his wishes, as I gained the impression that the timing felt right for him to take this step. Even though his departure will leave a significant gap, our respect for his decision and our gratitude for everything he has done for Red Bull Racing outweigh it.

“Helmut Marko will be deeply missed, both personally and professionally. We wish him all the very best for the future and hope that he will remain closely and warmly connected to the team.”