Helmut Marko Rules Out Formula 1 Return After Red Bull Departure
Former Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has firmly dismissed any possibility of returning to Formula 1 following his departure from the team at the end of the 2025 season, bringing an end to one of the most influential and outspoken careers in modern F1 management.
Marko, now 82, has been a central figure in Red Bull’s rise to dominance. After founding his own racing outfit, RSM Marko, in 1984, he later transformed it into a key pipeline for young talent when Red Bull adopted it as the backbone of their junior driver programme in 2005. Over two decades, Marko became synonymous with Red Bull’s aggressive and highly successful approach to driver development.
His sharp eye for talent played a decisive role in shaping the careers of several drivers, most notably Max Verstappen. Marko was instrumental in fast-tracking Verstappen into Formula 1 and later backing his promotion to Red Bull Racing in 2016. The Dutchman has since gone on to become one of the sport’s defining figures, matching Sebastian Vettel’s record of four consecutive world championships with the team.
However, the 2026 season will mark a significant turning point. For the first time in his Formula 1 career, Verstappen will compete without Marko’s presence in the Red Bull garage. The team confirmed after the 2025 season finale that Marko would be stepping away permanently, closing a chapter that spanned the most successful era in Red Bull’s history.
Despite his exit, Marko has remained closely connected to the sport. He has stated that he will continue to follow Formula 1 closely throughout the 2026 season and maintain regular contact with Verstappen. This naturally fuelled speculation over whether the Austrian might be tempted back to the grid in some capacity, potentially with a rival constructor.
Those rumours, however, have now been firmly shut down.
Speaking to Austrian broadcaster ORF, Marko made it clear that a return to Formula 1 is not under consideration. Reflecting on his new life away from the daily pressures of the paddock, he admitted that the change has brought a sense of relief.
“I’m no longer directly involved, but I’m well informed,” Marko explained. “The positive side is that I don’t feel any pressure anymore. I don’t lie awake worrying about whether the engine will work or if something will go wrong. That responsibility is gone.”
While he acknowledged that his interest in Red Bull’s performance remains strong, Marko described his current relationship with the team as far more relaxed. “Of course, I want Red Bull to achieve the best possible results, but watching from the outside is a very different experience now,” he said.
When asked directly about retirement, Marko was unequivocal. “Yes, it is 100 per cent out of the question that I will return to Formula 1,” he stated.
Marko also revealed that he has been approached by other teams since leaving Red Bull, describing some of the conversations as “obscure and interesting.” Despite those offers, he made it clear that his loyalty remains with the team where he built his legacy.
“I became successful in Formula 1 with Red Bull, and that’s how it should remain,” Marko said. “Nothing else can replace that.”
His comments come at a time of major transition for Red Bull Racing. As the sport heads into a new regulatory era in 2026, the Milton Keynes-based outfit will do so without several of its long-standing leaders. Christian Horner, Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley and Marko have all departed in recent seasons, marking a complete leadership reset.
While Newey and Wheatley have already taken up roles with rival teams, Marko’s decision to stay retired underscores his belief that his journey in Formula 1 is complete—and inseparable from Red Bull’s success.
