(L to R): Christian Horner (GBR) Red Bull Racing Team Principal with Dr Helmut Marko (AUT) Red Bull Motorsport Consultant. 28.04.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 4, Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku Street Circuit, Azerbaijan, Qualifying Day.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has denied rumours that he is currently involved in an internal power struggle with the side’s Team Principal, Christian Horner.
Marko has overseen the highly successful Red Bull driver development programme since 1999 and has been responsible for ushering through the likes of Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen into Formula 1.
But the Austrian has been in the headlines recently for the wrong reasons, having been handed a warning by the FIA after blaming Sergio Perez’s wayward form on his ethnicity.
Now 80, speculation has continuously persisted about when Marko will eventually opt to step aside from racing duties. Earlier this week, Sport1.de reported that his position was currently under discussion.
Furthermore, the German outlet noted that Red Bull F1 team boss Horner was in favour of ousting Marko from his role and that a summit was being held this week.
However, speaking to Austrian newspaper OE24, Marko discarded the report.
“I’m doing well. Contrary to many assumptions. I have to disappoint the prophets of doom. I have no idea where all the rumours are coming from,” he stated.
“There is no summit this week. I have a contract until the end of next year. When and how I stop, when it is over, that is up to me to decide and not, for example, Mr. Horner.”
Dr Helmut Marko (AUT) Red Bull Motorsport Consultant with 1st place Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing. 08.10.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 18, Qatar Grand Prix, Doha, Qatar, Race Day.
Marko explains that upheaval has been ongoing behind the scenes in Red Bull’s racing division since the death of its founder, Dietrich Mateschitz, late last year.
“Due to the new situation, everything is different,” he discussed. “People are trying to define their power again.”
Amid Marko landing himself in hot water for his comments about Perez last month, Horner revealed that the consultant is not employed directly by the racing team.
“He’s not an employee of Red Bull Racing, so in terms of why didn’t we put out a statement, he’s part of the Red Bull Group and the Group issued an apology through the Servus TV channel,” he told Sky F1.
Despite rumours of a rift emerging between the pair, Horner publicly didn’t condemn his colleague and accepted the mistake.
“Those comments weren’t right,” Horner acknowledged. “Helmut quickly recognised that and apologised for that both publicly and directly to Sergio.
“You are always learning in life even at 80 years of age. Inevitably lessons have been learned.”
Keyword: Marko denies rumours of Red Bull power struggle with Horner