Red Bull's long-time motorsport advisor Helmut Marko is set to leave the company at the end of this year after an impressive 20-year tenure with the Austrian outfit. The news comes ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season, which promises to be more unpredictable than ever due to new regulations that are expected to shake up the pecking order.
Marko has played a pivotal role in Red Bull's junior programme, giving young drivers an opportunity to drive in F1. His relationship with Max Verstappen is particularly noteworthy, as the Dutchman has credited Marko with helping him land his first Formula 1 seat just one year into his junior career. Verstappen has since become one of the sport's most dominant drivers, and it remains to be seen whether he will stay with Red Bull beyond next season.
Marko's departure is part of a broader effort by Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff to shake things up at the team. Following Christian Horner's sacking earlier this year, Marko's exit marks another significant change for the team as it looks to build on its impressive comeback in the second half of last season.
While Marko's departure will undoubtedly cause some uncertainty, Red Bull's technical and sporting teams are expected to continue operating with minimal disruption. As such, it is unlikely that Marko's exit will directly impact Verstappen's decision about his future at the team. However, car performance will remain a critical factor in determining whether Verstappen stays with Red Bull beyond next season.
Verstappen currently has a contract with Red Bull until 2028, but his future has been called into question in recent years due to inter-team tension and concerns over the car's performance. With new regulations set to be introduced for the 2026 season, it will be essential for Verstappen to be in a quick car if he wants to maintain his position at the top of the championship.
Marko has played a pivotal role in Red Bull's junior programme, giving young drivers an opportunity to drive in F1. His relationship with Max Verstappen is particularly noteworthy, as the Dutchman has credited Marko with helping him land his first Formula 1 seat just one year into his junior career. Verstappen has since become one of the sport's most dominant drivers, and it remains to be seen whether he will stay with Red Bull beyond next season.
Marko's departure is part of a broader effort by Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff to shake things up at the team. Following Christian Horner's sacking earlier this year, Marko's exit marks another significant change for the team as it looks to build on its impressive comeback in the second half of last season.
While Marko's departure will undoubtedly cause some uncertainty, Red Bull's technical and sporting teams are expected to continue operating with minimal disruption. As such, it is unlikely that Marko's exit will directly impact Verstappen's decision about his future at the team. However, car performance will remain a critical factor in determining whether Verstappen stays with Red Bull beyond next season.
Verstappen currently has a contract with Red Bull until 2028, but his future has been called into question in recent years due to inter-team tension and concerns over the car's performance. With new regulations set to be introduced for the 2026 season, it will be essential for Verstappen to be in a quick car if he wants to maintain his position at the top of the championship.
i feel bad for helmut marko tho, he's been with red bull for 20 years and has done so much for the young drivers like max... now that he's leaving it's gonna be interesting to see how things play out at the team 
especially with max's contract till 2028... will he stay or go? 
I hope they can get a good car next season or else max might have to think about his future elsewhere 
he's had an amazing run but those new regulations could shake things up big time 
. Max Verstappen will def still be with Red Bull, but it's gonna be interesting to see how things play out. The new regulations are gonna shake up the F1 scene big time 
. I hope Marko finds a good team to join, he deserves it after all his hard work 
. And can we talk about how Red Bull is shaking things up? First Christian Horner goes, now Marko's leaving... what's next?! 
I'm not surprised to hear that Helmut Marko is leaving Red Bull after 20 years with the team. It's been an era where young drivers like Max Verstappen got their big break, and it'll be interesting to see who comes in next to help shape the future of F1 
. With new regulations on the horizon, it's gonna be a wild ride for all teams - I'm thinking of getting tickets to some of the key races this season 
. Marko's exit might shake things up, but with Red Bull's top brass looking to make some changes, maybe it's a chance for Verstappen to take on more responsibilities and lead by example 
. Only time will tell if he'll stay put or take his talents elsewhere 
like Red Bull thought they could handle things without Marko's expertise and now they're gonna have to scramble to keep Verstappen on board 