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helmut marco is gone red Bull as after 20 years f1 The team’s chief advisor and head of driver development.
The outspoken 82-year-old, known for his outspoken views and brutal driver decisions, is close to Red Bull’s four-time F1 world champion. max verstappen,
Yet Marko has announced his retirement, a decision that is not expected to have any impact on Verstappen’s short-term future at the team.
In a statement, Marko said: “I have been involved in motorsport for six decades now, and the journey over the last 20-plus years at Red Bull has been an extraordinary and hugely successful one. It has been an amazing time that I have been able to help shape so many talented people and share with them what we have built and achieved together fills me with pride.
“I am deeply saddened to miss the World Championships this season and it is clear to me that this is the right time for me personally to end this very long, intense and successful chapter.
“I wish the entire team continued success and I am confident that they will fight for both World Championship titles again next year.”
Marco has faced criticism in recent weeks for comments that inflamed the situation around kmy antonelli At the end of the Qatar GP, in which Lando Norris overtook him in the closing laps.
Antonelli received death threats online within the next 24 hours, although even before this incident Marko’s future at Red Bull was in doubt.
Red Bull’s CEO of Corporate Projects and Investments Oliver Mintzlaff paid a moving tribute to the outgoing Austrian: “Helmut approached me with his 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.
“Over more than 20 years, Helmut has brought immeasurable achievements to our team and the entire Red Bull Motorsport family. He played a decisive role in all key strategic decisions that have made Red Bull Racing what it is today: a multiple world champion, an engine of innovation and a cornerstone of international motorsport.
“His penchant for exceptional talent not only shaped our junior programme, but also left a lasting impact on Formula 1 as a whole. Names like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen stand among the many drivers who were discovered, supported and guided to the top under his leadership. His passion, his courage to make clear decisions and his ability to recognize potential will remain unforgettable.
“After long and intense conversations, I knew I had to respect his wishes, as I felt the time was right for him to make this step. Even though his departure will leave a significant gap, our respect for his decision and our gratitude for everything he has done for Red Bull Racing outweigh it.
red bull team principal laurent mekieswho replaced Christian Horner in July, indicated that changes would be made in the background in the off-season.
“Helmut has been incredible in helping us turn things around this year,” McKees said after Sunday’s race. “Obviously, he and the top management had to take some difficult decisions and, of course, we have always known that F1 is not a stable environment.
“You always adjust your organizations. This applies to technical [departments]This applies to sports [departments] And it is completely normal that we review all the time how we can improve the way we work.
“I’m not saying this specifically to Helmut, but I am saying that in general, we are in an environment where we are always challenging each other and looking for next steps, no matter how small in trying to work together. I can only thank Helmut for the role he has played in fundamentally improving what looked like a difficult situation in the middle of the season.”
It’s a crucial winter for Red Bull, who, along with Ford, are producing the team’s first in-house engine ahead of the 2026 rule changes.
Verstappen has a contract with the team until the end of the 2028 season, but his future after next year will be determined by the team’s competitiveness on track. Isak Hadjar will join the team as Verstappen’s fourth teammate in just over a year.