Red Bull Racing top advisor Helmut Marko says that he was already thinking about leaving last year, but he believes that Red Bull should still think about the legacy of the deceased Dietrich Mateschitz. According to the Austrian, they owe it to him. The current internal chaos at Red Bull cannot be solved with a few conversations, according to Marko.
Last weekend in Jeddah the paddock was captivated by the possible suspension of Marko. When Christian Horner was asked by Viaplay what those rumors were, he indicated that that was the first time he heard them. Max Verstappen had a clearer answer: if Marko leaves, it will also affect his future. A day later, the 80-year-old Austrian appeared in the paddock with Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff, and the story surrounding his suspension indeed seemed to be just a rumor. It is not clear what is going on now. It is clear that there is thunder and lightning behind the scenes.
The usually reliable F1 insider already reported on Sunday, March 10, that Horner is the one who will soon be able to pack his things. Relationships have changed within Red Bull. For example, according to De Telegraaf, Marko did not fly back with the British team boss, but with Verstappen. “I hope it will be over as soon as possible,” Marko told De Telegraaf. ‘The past few weeks haven’t been the best of times. I was already thinking about leaving at the end of last year, but I also think we should think about Dietrich’s legacy, what his ideas were and where they took us. We owe that to him.’
What if Verstappen goes? ‘Then a door will open for him everywhere’
Marko sees it as respect for an incredibly great personality to keep thinking about the Red Bull founder. Just as he is loyal to Mateschitz, Verstappen is loyal to Marko. ‘What happens if Max goes? This is discussed internally. But I’m sure a door will open for him everywhere,” says the Austrian. In any case, what happens internally does not seem to influence performance on the track. Red Bull took another one-two in Jeddah, just like in Bahrain.
“Max closes himself off from everything, and that’s great,” Marko praises. ‘But I was most impressed that he didn’t even ask for the fastest lap time in the final phase. He just wanted to drive quietly to the finish. He’s so relaxed right now.’ After the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the three-time world champion emphasizes that the team will continue to work together and that they want to focus on racing. That peace returns is very important to him. ‘In a career there are not always only fun moments, and from an early age I have learned that, as soon as my help is on and my visor is closed, I can shut down and focus on my own performance.’
