According to media reports, Red Bull has started an investigation into Helmut Marko, who is suspected of leaking team manager Christian Horner’s scandalous messages to the media.
According to media reports, Helmut Marko is threatened with being put on the shelf. PDO
Red Bull’s adviser Helmut Marko reveals that the team may shelve him because of team boss Christian Horner’s relay commotion. Motorsport according to information, Marko is the subject of a new investigation by Red Bull, and his position may be at stake because of it.
According to Motorsport, Red Bull is investigating Marko for media leaks related to the Horner harassment scandal. According to the newspaper, the investigation is in progress, and the team has not made any conclusions about whether Marko has disclosed confidential information to the press.
According to news agency AFP, Marko is suspected of leaking Horner’s messages to the media himself.
– Red Bull has launched an internal investigation into Helmut Marko, who is suspected of being the source of the leaks to the press in connection with the Horner case, an inside source who remains anonymous tells AFP.
In connection with the ongoing GP in Saudi Arabia, Marko told the Austrian ORF that it is possible that he will not be allowed to the next race in Australia.
Max Verstappen has positioned himself to support Marko. PDO
– It’s hard to judge, but let’s say this: in the end, it’s up to me to decide what I do, Marko said.
Marko admitted to ORF that shelving is a possible disciplinary measure.
– The theoretical possibility exists, whether you want it or not.
Red Bull spokesperson commented for the BBC, that the stable is not aware of the threat of Marko being put on the shelf. He emphasizes that Marko works directly for the parent company in Austria, and the F1 team has no power over him.
Verstappen defends
Red Bull’s brightest star Max Verstappen has already supported Marko. After claiming the pole position on the Jedda street circuit, Verstappen insisted that Marko be allowed to keep his place.
– It is very important that he stays in the team. If such an important pillar disappears, it’s not good for me either. So I think Helmut definitely has to stay, says Verstappen.
“He built this team together with Dietrich (Mateschitz) from day one and he has always been very loyal to the team and everyone in it to make sure that everyone kept their place.
Christian Horner has denied all allegations of harassment. Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/Shutterstock, AOP
The Red Bull buzz won’t die down
The news of Marko’s possible suspension comes just a day after Red Bull suspended a female employee who accused Horner of inappropriate behavior. According to the Times, a woman working for Red Bull’s F1 team has been sidelined from the team’s operations for an unspecified period of time.
Horner was the subject of an internal investigation but was cleared of the charges ahead of the opening race in Bahrain.
After the decision, the messages and pictures sent by Horner were leaked to the press. The Daily Mail according to the materials are in a Google Drive file that was sent from an anonymous email address to hundreds of journalists and all team managers. It has not been possible to prove the veracity of the messages. Red Bull and Horner have refused to comment publicly on the matter.
Max Verstappen’s father Jos Verstappen publicly called for Horner’s resignation. Isä-Verstappen flashed with the option that Verstappen would change the team if Horner continues in his position.
At the same time, wild speculation started about Max Verstappen’s transfer to Mercedes, because Jos Verstappen had met privately with Mercedes team manager Toto Wolff.
Max was asked about his father’s comments on Wednesday. He replied that his father “is not a liar”.
– I talk to him all the time, we are a team. Me, my dad and Raymond (Vermeulen, Verstappen’s manager) we are all in this together. And it always will be.