Behind the spin: Why Helmut Marko is really out at Red Bull

Red Bull has confirmed that Helmut Marko, the team’s long-time motorsport adviser and a pivotal figure in its Formula 1 history, will leave his role at the end of 2025. Officially, the 81-year-old is retiring. Unofficially, his exit marks the conclusion of an internal power struggle that has reshaped the team's leadership since the death of co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz.

Why it matters:

Marko's departure represents a seismic shift for Red Bull Racing. For two decades, he was the architect of its driver development program, discovering and mentoring world champions Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. His exit removes a central pillar of the team's old guard and signals a corporate-driven modernization, potentially altering the internal dynamics that Verstappen has long relied upon.

The Details:

• Publicly framed as a retirement, multiple paddock sources indicate the exit was neither sudden nor entirely voluntary, stemming from a prolonged power struggle.
• The final fracture reportedly occurred when Marko pushed through the signing of junior driver Alex Dunne against the wishes of Red Bull's shareholders.
• His political standing had been diminishing since Mateschitz's death in 2022, with CEO Oliver Mintzlaff seeking a structural reset for Red Bull's F1 operations.
• Tensions peaked in early 2024 with a failed internal attempt to oust Marko during the Christian Horner controversy, and were further strained by his controversial remarks about Kimi Antonelli in Qatar.

What's next:

The immediate focus turns to Max Verstappen's future. While his contract no longer contains a clause tied to Marko, losing his trusted mentor and "second father" figure changes the team's internal landscape. Verstappen is committed through 2026 and has praised new team principal Laurent Mekies, but his long-term future may hinge on Red Bull's competitiveness with its first in-house power unit under the new 2026 regulations. Marko's exit closes a defining chapter and opens an era of uncertainty for the reigning champions.