Helmut Marko Departs Red Bull After Two Decades as New Corporate Era Dawns

Helmut Marko, the long-standing and outspoken advisor at Red Bull Racing, is leaving the team after 20 years. His exit follows the ousting of Christian Horner earlier in the year and marks the definitive end of the old guard, as the parent company solidifies a new, more corporate management structure that had no room for a renegade figure like Marko.

Why it matters:

Marko's departure signifies the final step in Red Bull GmbH's takeover of its F1 team's operations, moving it from a personality-driven empire to a corporate entity. For two decades, Marko was the direct link to founder Dietrich Mateschitz and a powerful, uncontrollable voice. His removal completes a purge of the old leadership and underscores that in the new 'Red Bull 2.0', no individual is bigger than the brand.

The details:

• Following Horner's mid-2025 exit, a new management team led by Team Principal Laurent Mekies and reporting to CEO Oliver Mintzlaff was installed. Marko's old-school, media-friendly, and unilateral decision-making style clashed with the desired corporate image.
• Unilateral Moves: After Horner's departure, Marko made key driver decisions without consulting the new leadership. He reportedly informed junior driver Isack Hadjar of a promotion to Red Bull and signed Alex Dunne to the junior program independently, actions that frustrated Mekies and Mintzlaff.
• Final Straws: A series of incidents sealed his fate. Paddock behavior in Singapore reportedly angered major shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya. Later, in Qatar, Marko made controversial, unsubstantiated claims on live TV that Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli had intentionally erred to help Lando Norris, damaging Max Verstappen's title hopes.
• No Safety Net: Unlike in early 2024, when Verstappen's support saved Marko from suspension, the Dutch driver did not intervene this time. The new management is said to have the full confidence of the Verstappen camp.

Between the lines:

Marko may have believed he emerged victorious from the internal power struggle by contributing to Horner's ouster, but he ultimately survived his rival by only a few months. The parent company's goal was always to make the team "about the can, not the man," a philosophy incompatible with Marko's influential and independent role. His subsequent, bitter interviews attacking Horner suggest a departure that was not entirely voluntary, contradicting the official narrative of a mutual decision.

What's next:

With Marko's exit, the transition to a fully corporate Red Bull Racing is complete. The team now moves forward under a clear, centralized chain of command with Mekies, Mintzlaff, and advisor Ahmet Mercan. While Marko's unparalleled eye for talent—discovering drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen—leaves a void, the team bets that a streamlined, professional structure will provide more sustainable success than the drama of the past era. The power struggle that began with Mateschitz's death has finally reached its conclusion.