Red Bull’s senior advisor, Helmut Marko, who made an unusual decision to accompany Max Verstappen instead of Christian Horner back from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, has disclosed that he had already contemplated departing from Red Bull late last year.
Despite Red Bull’s impressive performance on the track, securing consecutive 1-2 finishes in the F1 2024 season opener with Verstappen clinching victories ahead of Sergio Perez, the team finds itself entangled in a series of concerning developments off the track.
Amidst Verstappen’s commanding win at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, attention shifted away from the on-track action as speculation arose regarding Marko’s potential suspension from Red Bull or his voluntary departure.
Verstappen, advocating for “peace” within the Red Bull team, emphasized the interconnectedness of his and Marko’s futures within the organization.
While Verstappen has publicly expressed strong support for Marko, the same level of clarity and support hasn’t been evident regarding the future of team principal Horner.
Recently, Horner faced a case brought against him by a colleague, which was subsequently dismissed by Red Bull GbmH following an internal inquiry.
Verstappen’s father, Jos, has openly advocated for Horner’s departure. Despite Horner stating that his relationship with Marko is “no issue”, doubts are surfacing, especially with a recent assertion introducing a new element of uncertainty.
According to the publication, Marko typically returns home from Grand Prix events alongside Horner, with Marko being dropped off first in Austria. However, during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Marko departed alongside Verstappen instead.
Meanwhile, Marko, expressing a desire for the Red Bull’s off-track issues to be “resolved as soon as possible” disclosed to the publication that the idea of departing from Red Bull had been on his mind since last year.
However, he emphasized the importance of “respect” towards team founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who passed away in October 2022.
Marko disclosed; “I was already thinking about leaving at the end of last season.”
“But I think we should also think about team founder Dietrich Mateschitz and his legacy, what his ideas were, and where it has taken us. We owe that to him, but I also see it as a kind of respect to an incredibly amazing personality.”
In the midst of the uncertainty surrounding Red Bull, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has expressed his keen interest in securing Verstappen for the 2025 season, envisioning him as a potential replacement for Lewis Hamilton, who is set to join Ferrari.
Marko is confident that opportunities will arise across the grid if Verstappen decides to part ways with Red Bull. “What happens when Max is done with it? Then we will discuss that internally,” Marko stated. “But I’m sure a door will open for him everywhere.”
Should Verstappen successfully defend his World Championship title in the 2024 F1 season, he will equal Sebastian Vettel’s record of four consecutive titles with Red Bull, achieved between 2010 and 2013.
