Dr. Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, is rumoured to be suspended in a latest twist in the Christian Horner saga. According to some F1 journalists he’s being investigated for leaking information to the press and is subsequently forbidden to talk them.
According to the Austrian himself he’s having a meeting about his future tomorrow, when asked by Sky Germany about the rumoured suspension.
“There are so many rumors, I don’t want to say anything about this at all. I have a meeting tomorrow and everything has to fit so that I even still want to work there. The displeasure is mutual.”
Marko is not hired by Red Bull Racing, but rather by the parent company Red Bull, as their motorsports advisor, and he is therefore reporting to Oliver Mintzlaff rather than Christian Horner.
“My boss is Oliver Mintzlaff. I am not involved in anything regarding the missing transparency in this case and I can’t say anything. If I won’t be there next week, it won’t be tragic.”
Whether Marko’s absence indeed will or will not be tragic remains to be seen, but the impact of the 80 year old on the Red Bull Racing organisation cannot be denied. Closely involved in setting up the team, he’s also responsible for letting both Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen debut for the team, which has given the team a total of seven drivers’ titles.
After today’s qualifying, polesitter Verstappen was also questioned about the Marko situation, suggesting that his future with the team is dependent on Marko’s future with the team. This was already rumoured as an exit-clause within his contract.
“My loyalty to him is very big, and also I have always expressed this to everyone within the team, everyone high up, that he is an important part in my decision making for all the time in the future as well within the team. So, it is very important he stays within the team, including of course everyone else because it is a whole team effort.”
Despite refusing to outright back team principal Christian Horner, the Dutchman does emphasise the fact that it is really important to keep the team intact.
“It is very important we keep the key people together because I feel if such an important pillar falls away, that’s also what I’ve said to the team, that is not good for my situation as well. So yeah, for sure, for me, Helmut has to stay.
“He has built this team together with Dietrich [Mateschitz] from day one. And he’s always been very loyal to the team, to everyone within the team, to make sure that everyone would keep their positions already from back in the day.”
The three-time world champion continues: “I think it’s also very important, of course, that you give the man a lot of respect for what he has done. And that comes back also to loyalty, you know, and integrity. So, yeah, for sure, it’s important that he stays part of the team, also for me.”
Later, when talking to Sky Germany, Verstappen is a little less political in his assessment of the situation: “[…] if Helmut Marko leaves, we have a big problem at Red Bull.
“I always said, and everyone at Red Bull know, that for me personally, Helmut Marko must always be there.”
