Bang in Formula 1
Red Bull is apparently separating from Helmut Marko
12/8/2025 – 4:52 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
The end of Dr. Helmut Marko at Red Bull is apparently a done deal. Things won’t continue for the Austrian – despite a valid contract.
Shortly after the furious Formula 1 finale in Abu Dhabi, in which Max Verstappen lost his world title to McLaren driver Lando Norris, an era at Red Bull is now apparently coming to an end. As the British newspaper “The Telegraph” reports, energy drink manufacturer and motorsport consultant Dr. Helmut Marko. The contract of the ex-racing driver, who has been working for the team since 2005, would actually have been valid for another year.
But now it seems to be over for the 82-year-old. At the race weekend in the United Arab Emirates, when asked whether his future at Red Bull was in question, Marko replied: “It’s not in question, I’ll have a conversation and then see what I do.” But he also emphasized: “It’s a complex combination of different things. I have to sleep on it and then we’ll see.”
Marko is considered a close confidant of Red Bull’s top driver Max Verstappen. According to the report, the Graz native’s departure should have no impact on the future of the four-time world champion, who had linked that to Marko’s whereabouts in the past. For Verstappen, the competitiveness of the Red Bull cars in the coming season will be crucial to whether he will compete for the racing team beyond 2026, writes “The Telegraph”
In 2024, Marko was in the media spotlight, mainly due to the power struggle with the then team boss Christian Horner. Each of the two is said to have had the backing of one side of the Red Bull owners: Marko from the Austrian side around the member of the management Oliver Mintzlaff and Horner from the Thai co-owners. At this point, a scandal surrounding Horner’s alleged abusive behavior towards an employee also dominated the headlines.
Both Marko and Horner were linked with a possible expulsion at the time. In the end, both opponents were allowed to stay. Team peace was restored for the time being. But: Star designer Adrian Newey and sports director Jonathan Weatley turned their backs on Red Bull. Horner in turn seized more and more power, including taking over the chairmanship of the technology and engine departments as well as the marketing department.
Things then went downhill in terms of sport. Verstappen was able to win the world title again in 2024, but Red Bull’s supremacy in Formula 1 had been lost. The racing team had to give up the team world championship to McLaren. Horner was fired in July of this year. Red Bull gave no official reason for the decision. Now the second powerful Red Bull boss, Marko, is apparently leaving.