Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko has decided to leave the team, ending more than 20 years of influence as part of a multi-championship winning system.
Marko helped develop young talent through his own team and in partnership with Red Bull in the early 2000s, before Red Bull entered F1 in 2005. From that point on, he served as an advisor to 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 his position was under threat in 2024 after a power struggle with then team principal Christian Horner. Despite ultimately outperforming Horner this year, Marko confirmed he will be leaving the position at the end of the year.
“I have been involved in motorsport for 60 years, but the past 20-plus years with Red Bull have been an extraordinary and very successful journey,” Marko said. “It’s been an amazing time helping to shape and share with so many talented people. I’m so proud of everything we’ve built and achieved together.
“Missing out the World Championships so close to this season was a huge emotion for me and personally made it clear to me that now is the right time to end what has been a very long, intense and successful chapter. I wish the entire team every success and I am sure they will continue to fight for both World Championship titles next year.”
Marko, who was seen as a key ally of Red Bull’s four-time world champion Max Verstappen, will leave the team in favor of Laurent Mequise, who took over as team principal from Horner in July.
Marko, known for both his uncanny ability to identify talent capable of reaching F1 and his ruthless approach to underperforming drivers, was never far from controversy. He had to apologize for comments relating to Sergio Perez’s ethnicity in 2023 and drew criticism in some quarters after branding Isaac Hajjar’s tearful reaction to a pre-race crash in his Australian F1 debut as “embarrassing”.
Red Bull also had to issue a statement after the Qatar Grand Prix just a week ago saying it deeply regretted the online abuse directed at Kimi Antonelli, during which Marko reiterated that the Mercedes rookie deliberately let Lando Norris run away in the final stages of the race. The research team said Marco’s claims were “clearly false.”
Marko is also aware that structural changes in recent seasons have affected the young driver program, with Guillaume Roquelin taking on a key role three years ago, but Red Bull’s chief executive of corporate projects and investments Oliver Mintzlaff said he was unwilling to accept the resignation.
“Helmut approached me with a desire 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 over 20 years and his departure marks the end of an extraordinary era.
“For more than 20 years, Helmut has delivered unparalleled achievements to our team and the entire Red Bull Motorsport family. He played a decisive role in all the key strategic decisions that have made Red Bull Racing what it is today: multiple world champions, a powerhouse of innovation and a cornerstone of international motorsport.”
“His instinct for exceptional talent not only shaped our junior program, but left a lasting impact on F1 as a whole. Names like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen represent the many drivers who were discovered, supported and brought to the top under his leadership. His passion, courage to make clear decisions and his ability to see potential will be remembered.”
“After a long and intensive conversation, I knew I had to respect his wishes, as I felt it was the right time for him to take this step. Even though his departure leaves a huge gap, we respect his decision and are outweighed by our gratitude for everything he has done for Red Bull Racing.”
“Helmut Marko will be greatly missed personally and professionally. We wish him all the best for the future and hope that he will remain in close and warm contact with the team.”
