Christian Horner accused of ‘lying’ at Red Bull from M…read more
Christian Horner has been sharply criticised by outgoing Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko, who has accused the former team principal of dishonesty and questionable conduct during his time at the Formula 1 team. The explosive comments come at a moment of significant change and internal upheaval at Red Bull, following Horner’s departure earlier this year and Marko’s impending retirement.
Horner, who had been one of the most influential figures in Red Bull’s history, was dismissed from his role as team principal in July after two decades at the helm. During his tenure, he oversaw one of the most successful eras in Formula 1, guiding the team to 14 world championships and transforming Red Bull from a newcomer into a dominant force on the grid. However, his exit marked the culmination of a prolonged internal power struggle within the organisation.
The latest controversy has been fuelled by remarks from Helmut Marko, the long-serving adviser who worked closely with Horner since Red Bull entered Formula 1 in 2005. Marko, now 82, confirmed last week that he will step down from his role at the end of the year, bringing an end to nearly two decades of influence over the team’s driver programme and strategic direction.
Despite preparing to leave the organisation, Marko has not remained silent. In a fierce and highly publicised attack, he accused Horner of “lying” and engaging in what he described as “dirty games” behind the scenes. The comments have added further tension to an already turbulent period for Red Bull, which has faced internal disputes, leadership changes and growing scrutiny over its management structure over the past two years.
Marko was a central figure at Red Bull, particularly known for his uncompromising approach to driver development. As head of the team’s driver academy, he played a decisive role in shaping the careers of several top-level drivers, including Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. His reputation for making ruthless decisions earned him both admiration and criticism within the sport.
According to Marko, his relationship with Horner deteriorated significantly as internal politics at Red Bull intensified. He suggested that trust between senior figures had broken down and implied that Horner’s actions contributed to the instability that eventually led to his dismissal. While Marko did not provide detailed examples of the alleged dishonesty, his remarks painted a picture of a fractured leadership dynamic at one of Formula 1’s most powerful teams.
Horner, for his part, has not publicly responded to Marko’s accusations. Since his departure, he has largely kept a low profile, though sources close to the former team principal have previously suggested that his removal was the result of a complex internal restructuring rather than any single incident.
The public nature of Marko’s comments has surprised many within the paddock, given the pair’s long history of collaboration. Together, Horner and Marko were instrumental in building Red Bull Racing into a championship-winning organisation, combining aggressive driver development with innovative technical leadership.
However, the recent fallout highlights how fragile that alliance had become. Insiders suggest that competing visions for the future of the team, combined with mounting pressure from both on-track performance and off-track controversies, created deep divisions at senior levels of management.
Marko’s retirement now signals the end of an era at Red Bull. With both Horner and Marko gone, the team faces a period of transition as it looks to redefine its leadership identity and maintain competitiveness in an increasingly tight Formula 1 field.
As Red Bull prepares for the future, the accusations exchanged by its former leaders underscore the scale of the challenges it has faced behind the scenes. What was once seen as a unified and dominant organisation is now navigating the fallout of internal conflict, raising questions about how the team will move forward without two of the figures who shaped its rise to the top.
While Red Bull remains a major force in Formula 1, the bitter war of words between Horner and Marko has revealed just how turbulent the closing chapters of their partnership truly were.
