Why does Helmut Marko refuse to leave Red Bull?
At the age of 81, the Red Bull Racing icon is always ready to make a sensational statement in the paddock. If many are wondering why he's not retiring, the answer can be summed up in two names: Max Verstappen and Dietrich Mateschitz.
The connection between Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen is not new. From his teenage years, the Dutchman impressed the Austrian mentor: “The first time I had a serious conversation with Max, he was 13. Normally, I talk to a young driver for 10 to 15 minutes. With him, it was over an hour,” confides Marko to Formula 1 Magazine. This connection has only grown over the years, becoming one of the pillars of Red Bull. Verstappen himself doesn’t hide his attachment to the Austrian: “He is like a second father to me.” And that’s significant in a sport where relationships between drivers and leaders are often purely professional. In 2024, when internal tensions threatened Marko’s position at Red Bull, Max was categorical: “If Marko had to leave, Max would also leave the team.” A strong stance, proving how inseparable these two are.
Its mission: protect the Red Bull spirit
The other reason that drives Marko to continue is the Red Bull spirit, forged by his friend and founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who passed away in 2022. “I am still doing this job for two reasons: one of them is Max, and the other is to protect the Red Bull spirit and Dietrich Mateschitz within the team,” explains Marko. Red Bull has always had a unique approach in F1. Unlike other teams that buy talents, the Austrian brand shapes them itself. “The boss always said: we don’t buy stars, we make them,” recalls Marko. And Max Verstappen is the perfect example: “Max is direct, approachable, and a great athlete. It’s wonderful to work with someone like that,” adds Marko. Since Mateschitz’s passing, Red Bull has experienced internal upheavals. Tensions have arisen, particularly around Christian Horner and the team management. Marko has had to balance to preserve the team’s DNA, and it’s not always simple.
Despite an undisputed dominance in recent years, Red Bull faced turbulence in 2024. While Verstappen once again crushed the competition, the Austrian team had to navigate a more complicated season than expected. “Max’s successes actually masked the problems we had with the car,” admits Marko. “Even if our car wasn’t the fastest, the second fastest, or the third fastest, he always got the best out of it.” This shows just how much Verstappen has raised his level of play. “Max has improved even more,” confirms Marko, impressed by his protégé. While the RB20 showed weaknesses as early as the Miami Grand Prix, Verstappen managed to compensate with his raw talent and killer instinct.
An inseparable duo
Helmut Marko knows it: as long as Max Verstappen is there, he will also be there. The Dutchman is much more than just a driver to him; he is an heir to the Red Bull philosophy, a spiritual son in the paddock. Even if Marko remains modest about this relationship: “That I am his second father? Haha, you won’t hear me say that,” he jokes.
One thing is for sure: as long as Max is behind the wheel, we haven’t seen the last of the Austrian walking the paddock with his cap and piercing gaze.
