Helmut Marko’s time at Red Bull F1 runs out

One of the more commanding figures in the Formula 1 paddock is departing the sport

Red Bull confirmed rumors on Tuesday that Helmut Marko’s time as a senior advisor was coming to an end. Framed as a “departure,” the team announced that after more than two decades, Marko decided to step away from the team.

“Helmut approached me with the wish to end his role as motorsport advisor at the end of the year. I deeply regret his decision, as he has been an influential figure for more than two decades, and his departure marks the end of an extraordinary era,” said Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull’s CEO of Corporate Projects and Investments.

“Over more than 20 years, Helmut has earned incomparable merits for our team and the entire Red Bull motorsport family. He played a decisive role in all key strategic decisions that made Red Bull Racing what it is today: a multiple world champion, an engine of innovation, and a cornerstone of international motorsport.”

During his tenure, Red Bull captured six Constructors’ Championships as well as eight Drivers’ titles, shared by Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. Marko was a key figure in identifying talent, as he was behind both Vettel’s rise at Red Bull, as well as Verstappen’s. That success is reflected in Mintzlaff’s words.

However, the picture is a bit more cloudy than the flowing prose sent Marko’s way.

His tenure turned increasingly rocky in recent seasons, amidst rumors of a power struggle with former Team Principal Christian Horner. Horner was forced out earlier this season, and according to multiple reports, Marko saw his influence decrease following that move as the team made additional internal changes.

Marko reportedly was behind the attempted signing of Alex Dunne as a reserve driver, which came against the wishes of both Mintzlaff and new Team Principal Laurent Mekies. While negotiations between Marko and Dunne reached an advanced stage, and he was released from the McLaren driver development program. But Red Bull senior figures intervened, and the prospective deal was terminated.

A final straw may have been Marko’s comments following the Qatar Grand Prix. In the closing stages of that race, as Max Verstappen was in position for a win to keep his hopes for a fifth Drivers’ Championship alive, Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli was fourth, but fending off a late charge from Lando Norris, the leader in the standings. Antonelli made a mistake and ran wide at one turn, opening the door for Norris to take that position and critically, two more points.

Norris clinched his first F1 Drivers’ Championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix by two points over Verstappen. Had he finished fifth in that race the two would have ended the year tied on points, with Verstappen winning the title due to tiebreaker rules.

Following the Qatar Grand Prix Marko blasted Antonelli and Mercedes, declaring that it was “obvious” that Antonelli simply let Norris by. To be fair, Marko was not the only Red Bull figure to make such a claim, as Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase said this to his driver right as that happened: “[n]ot sure what happened to Antonelli, mate. Looks like he just pulled over and let Norris through.”

However, Lambiase’s comments came in the heat of the moment, and he immediately apologized after he was confronted by Red Bull Team Principal Toto Wolff.

Marko, however, made his initial comments after the race had ended, when more information — and replays — were available.

His comments led to a deluge of death threats directed at the Mercedes rookie on social media, and Antonelli disabled those accounts for a period of time. The FIA, F1’s governing body, interjected in the matter as well, sharing this on social media:

While Marko eventually apologized, the damage was done.

In Red Bull’s announcement, Marko pointed to the close title fight as a sign that it was time to leave F1.

“I have been involved in motorsport for six decades now, and the past 20-plus years at Red Bull have been an extraordinary and extremely successful journey. It has been a wonderful time that I have been able to help shape and share with so many talented people. Everything we have built and achieved together fills me with pride,” said Marko.

“Narrowly missing out on the world championship this season has moved me deeply and made it clear to me that now is the right moment for me personally to end this very long, intense, and successful chapter.

“I wish the entire team continued success and am convinced that they will be fighting for both world championship titles again next year.“

A driver he discovered sent along his gratitude:

Marko was a commanding figure in the F1 paddock, someone who drew attention — and microphones — everywhere he went.

But now those days have come to an end.