Marko departs Red Bull as Perez comments on Verstappen's title loss

Red Bull has officially confirmed the departure of long-time advisor Helmut Marko, marking the end of a major chapter for the team. The news headlines a busy post-season period that also saw former driver Sergio Perez comment on Max Verstappen losing the 2025 title to Lando Norris, and Mercedes testing innovative concepts for the 2026 regulations.

Why it matters:

Marko's exit, following Christian Horner's earlier dismissal, signals a profound shift in Red Bull's leadership and internal dynamics after more than 20 years of his influential presence. Concurrently, Perez's remarks and the technical developments from rivals highlight the ongoing personnel and competitive storylines that will shape the off-season narrative leading into a new era of regulations.

The details:

• Helmut Marko's Departure: Red Bull GmbH announced that the 82-year-old Austrian has stepped down from his senior advisory role. His future had been in doubt following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he was non-committal about continuing. He is the latest high-profile figure to leave the team this year.
• Sergio Perez's Reaction: The former Red Bull driver, who was dropped at the end of 2024, quipped that he was "perhaps" treated too harshly by the team, following Verstappen's failure to secure the 2025 drivers' championship. Perez is set to return to F1 in 2026 with the new Cadillac team.
• Isack Hadjar's Debut: The team's new recruit for 2026, Isack Hadjar, completed his first official running for Red Bull during the post-season test in Abu Dhabi, logging 111 laps in the RB21.
• Mercedes' 2026 Prototype: Mercedes trialed an innovative front wing design in the test, simulating the forces expected from the new active aerodynamics system set to replace DRS in 2026. The system will allow cars to alter their aerodynamic configuration between low-drag and high-downforce modes.
• McLaren's Private Radio: Untelevised team radio from the Abu Dhabi GP revealed McLaren CEO Zak Brown consoling Oscar Piastri after he lost the title to teammate Norris, telling the Australian he was "a star" and that the team loved him.

What's next:

The confirmation of Marko's departure closes a significant era for Red Bull as the team rebuilds its management structure. The technical data gathered from the post-season test, particularly regarding active aero concepts, will be crucial for development over the winter. All eyes now turn to the off-season, where driver market movements and preparations for the sweeping 2026 regulation changes will dominate the headlines.