In the confusing situation surrounding team boss Christian Horner, the next escalation is apparently imminent. A powerful man at the Austrian racing team is apparently about to be replaced.
That would be a real hammer – and the next escalation level in the chaos at the Red Bull Formula 1 team. What’s more: in the worst case scenario, the successful racing team could actually be threatened with collapse.
Because the ORF reported on Friday: The influential motorsport consultant Helmut Marko is about to be replaced at Red Bull. The 80-year-old Austrian – a confidant of world champion Max Verstappen – was evasive about the speculation about a suspension on Friday in Saudi Arabia: “There are so many rumors – I don’t really want to say anything about it,” explained Marko after qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sky. Then the strategist said something meaningful: “I have another conversation tomorrow and then we’ll see. But as I said: everything has to be right so that I want to continue working there.”
When asked by Sky reporter Peter Hardenacke, Marko confirmed that it was also up to him whether he stayed at Red Bull. A decision will be made “mutually”. When asked further, Marko revealed who he would be having the aforementioned conversation with on Saturday: “My direct superior is Oliver Mintzlaff.” Mintzlaff is still known to German sports fans as the managing director of RB Leipzig; the 48-year-old has been on the group’s management board since 2022.
“We want peace in the team”
Marko is seen as Horner’s internal adversary, who is supported by the Thai majority owners of Red Bull. He said on ORF: “We want peace in the team. This World Cup will be difficult enough with 24 races, we have to concentrate on that.”
The affair surrounding team boss Christian Horner, who was accused of inappropriate behavior by an employee, has been simmering at Red Bull for weeks. After an internal investigation by the company, the woman’s complaint was dismissed and Horner was allowed to remain in office. Because anonymous emails with juicy material appeared shortly afterwards, the Brit once again found himself in need of explanation.
If Marko, who has a contract until the end of 2026, actually has to leave the racing team, doubts about Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull would grow again. The Dutchman apparently has a clause in his contract, which runs until 2028, that allows him to leave at the end of the season if Marko leaves. Because Verstappen’s father Jos recently spoke clearly against Horner, there was already speculation that the three-time champion would move to Mercedes.