Helmut Marko Reveals First Conversation with Max Verstappen After Red Bull Exit Announcement

Helmut Marko has revealed the first, emotionally charged conversation he had with Max Verstappen after informing the driver of his decision to leave Red Bull, marking the end of a uniquely close partnership that defined an era of success for the team.

Why it matters:

The departure of Helmut Marko, following Christian Horner's exit, signals a profound structural shift within Red Bull Racing. His intensely close relationship with Verstappen was a cornerstone of the team's dominance, and its dissolution raises questions about the long-term dynamics and future leadership at the championship-winning outfit.

The details:

Marko met with Red Bull GmbH CEO Oliver Mintzlaff and a representative of the Yoovidhya family in Abu Dhabi, a meeting Verstappen was neither part of nor aware of. It was there Marko declared his intention to resign after over two decades as Red Bull's motorsport advisor.

• Marko then personally informed Verstappen of his decision. He described the conversation as "not normal" and filled with a "certain wistfulness."
• Verstappen expressed that he never imagined achieving such success, to which Marko replied that "everything comes to an end" and wished him the best. Verstappen concluded by saying, "we'll definitely meet somewhere."
• This relationship was so pivotal that Verstappen was previously prepared to leave Red Bull if the team had ousted Marko earlier in the season, underscoring its foundational importance.

Between the lines:

Marko's reflections highlight a partnership that evolved far beyond the typical driver-advisor dynamic. He noted it was "perhaps the closest I've ever had with a driver," praising Verstappen's continuous annual improvement in speed and maturity.

• He emphasized the lack of disagreements and how Verstappen's approach became "simpler" and calmer as his success grew, shedding the early "lapses or outbursts" to become an "incredibly perfect" personality for his age.
• This exit, coupled with Horner's, removes the two most influential figures from Verstappen's entire Red Bull career, leaving a new management structure to guide the team and its star driver into a new regulatory era in 2026.

What's next:

With both Marko and Horner gone, Red Bull enters 2026—a pivotal season with new technical regulations—under completely new operational leadership. The focus now shifts to how the new hierarchy, led by CEO Oliver Mintzlaff, manages the team's technical direction and, crucially, its relationship with a four-time champion accustomed to a very specific support system. The stability that fostered Verstappen's historic run is now a variable.