Red Bull confirm departure of long-serving F1 advisor Helmut Marko at end of the year
Red Bull Racing has officially announced that Helmut Marko, one of the most influential figures in the team’s history, will step down from his role at the end of the current year. The confirmation ends days of intense speculation surrounding Marko’s future, which began circulating earlier in the week and quickly gained momentum across the Formula 1 paddock.
Marko, who has been a central pillar of the Red Bull project for more than two decades, released a heartfelt statement reflecting on his long career and his time with the organisation. He described the decision as deeply personal and acknowledged that the emotional weight of narrowly missing out on the 2025 world championship had contributed to his choice to step away.
“I have been involved in motorsport for six decades, and these past 20-plus years with Red Bull have been extraordinary,” Marko said in the announcement. “I have been privileged to help shape an incredible journey in collaboration with countless talented individuals. Looking back at everything we have built, everything we have overcome, and everything we have achieved together—there is immense pride.”
Marko admitted that failing to clinch the championship this season left a strong emotional impact on him, prompting serious reflection about his future. “Missing the world title by such a small margin moved me deeply,” he continued. “It made me realise that now is the right moment to close this long, intense, and incredibly rewarding chapter of my life. I wish Red Bull continued success, and I have no doubt that the team will once again fight for both championships next year.”
Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull’s CEO, expressed both respect and disappointment at Marko’s decision. Mintzlaff noted that Marko personally approached him to communicate his desire to retire from his advisory role. “I deeply regret his decision,” he said, “because Helmut has been a defining presence for over two decades. His departure marks the end of a remarkable era in Red Bull’s Formula 1 history.”
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Who is Helmut Marko?
Helmut Marko’s legacy in motorsport stretches back more than half a century. Before becoming known as an advisor, talent scout, and policy-shaper at Red Bull, he was a racing driver himself. Marko competed in nine Formula 1 races in the early 1970s, but his career came to a tragic end during the 1972 French Grand Prix. A rock thrown up by another car pierced his helmet visor and struck his eye, leaving him permanently blind on the left side at just 29 years old. The life-altering incident forced him out of active racing but paved the way for his second career in driver management and motorsport development.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Marko mentored several promising Austrian drivers, building a reputation as a strict but highly knowledgeable figure. His life would change once again when he joined forces with Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 1990. A close friendship and professional partnership soon formed, leading Mateschitz to appoint Marko as his official motorsport advisor—a role that would shape the direction of Red Bull’s global racing empire.
Marko also became co-creator of the Red Bull Junior Team, the driver development programme responsible for discovering and nurturing some of the most successful drivers in modern Formula 1. Under his watch, stars such as Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen rose through the ranks to become world champions.
Working alongside team principal Christian Horner and later with Laurent Mekies in the restructured leadership, Marko remained central in Red Bull’s decision-making, particularly concerning driver selection. He became known for his blunt, uncompromising style and his readiness to take bold, sometimes controversial decisions. Most recently, he played a crucial role in the decision to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda only two races into the new season, further reinforcing Red Bull’s reputation for quick, high-pressure personnel changes.
Marko’s departure follows a turbulent period for Red Bull, which has already seen the exit of Christian Horner earlier in the year. His exit marks the second major leadership change in 2025 and signals a significant shift in the team’s internal structure as they prepare for the coming seasons.
After more than 20 years of shaping the Red Bull philosophy—identifying talent, moulding champions, and helping the organisation secure multiple world titles—Helmut Marko leaves behind an enduring legacy and an era that will be remembered for its remarkable triumphs, fierce decisions, and unmatched influence on modern Formula 1.
