Marko Blames Horner for Costing Verstappen 2025 Title After Red Bull Exit

Helmut Marko claims Max Verstappen would have won the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship if Red Bull had dismissed Team Principal Christian Horner earlier in the season. In his first interview since his own abrupt departure from the team, the long-serving advisor delivered a scathing assessment of Horner's final years in charge, citing internal power struggles and "dirty games" that destabilized the reigning champions.

Why it matters:

Marko's candid remarks pull back the curtain on the intense internal conflict that ultimately contributed to Red Bull's first championship defeat since 2021. His assertion that earlier action could have secured the title for Verstappen underscores how severely the leadership battle impacted on-track performance, ending one of the most successful management partnerships in F1 history.

The details:

• Marko is "absolutely convinced" that removing Horner sooner would have allowed the team to recover its form faster, enabling Verstappen to beat Lando Norris for the 2025 crown. Verstappen finished the season second, just two points behind Norris.
• He reframes the narrative of a personal feud, describing it instead as a structural battle for control following founder Dietrich Mateschitz's death in 2022. Marko states that power had always resided with the Austrian side of the company, which he represented.
• According to Marko, Horner began aligning with Thai co-owner Chalerm Yoovidhya even before Mateschitz's passing, telling Marko ahead of the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix that Mateschitz "would not live to see the end of the year."
• He alleges that "dirty games were played" in the final years, including fabricated statements attributed to him regarding engine development delays, which Horner allegedly tried to use as grounds for suspension.

The big picture:

The public fallout confirms the depth of the rift that had been rumored for over a year. Marko's departure, announced shortly after the Abu Dhabi finale, marks the definitive end of an era for Red Bull. His account suggests the championship was lost not just on track, but in a boardroom struggle that diverted focus and resources away from pure performance.

What's next:

With both Marko and Horner gone, the new leadership under Team Principal Laurent Mekies faces the task of reuniting the team and mounting a challenge to reclaim the constructors' title from McLaren in 2026. The stability of the team and its ability to fully support Verstappen's title ambitions will be under immediate scrutiny when the new season begins.

summary: In a frank exit interview, former Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko states that Max Verstappen would have won the 2025 title if the team had fired Christian Horner earlier. He details a bitter post-Mateschitz power struggle with Horner, alleging "dirty games" that cost the team crucial performance and ultimately the championship.