Helmut Marko reveals the moment he will decide to leave Red Bull

Jamie Woodhouse 22 Aug 2023 6:45 PM

Helmut Marko, Red Bull, looks serious. Spain, February 2022.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko says that only when he no longer feels he can make a “positive contribution” will he leave of his own accord.

The Red Bull Racing team boasts a core of long-serving staff in their senior ranks, with Marko having acted as an advisor while heading their junior driver programme since the team’s formation in 2005.

And to this day, now aged 80, Marko is still going strong, playing a key role in the Red Bull team that once more have established themselves as the dominant force in Formula 1.

Retirement not yet a consideration for Helmut Marko

The Austrian discussed his plans for the future withMotorsport-Magazin.com, explaining that he still feels fit both physically and mentally with continued enthusiasm for his role, one that he revealed lacks a specific title following a recently-signed contract, reportedly running to the end of F1 2024.

And while he still believes his impact on the main Red Bull and junior AlphaTauri team are positive, he is here to stay.

“I’ve only had a contract for a short time and there’s no title in it,” said Marko.

“As long as I am mentally and physically fit, and I am fascinated and enthusiastic, and as long as the people in charge give me the chance to continue here, I will do so.

“I don’t feel like an old man limping along. As long as I can make a positive contribution, that’s the bottom line.”

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Red Bull as a company recently underwent a huge change of leadership following the sad passing of co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz, with Oliver Mintzlaff now serving as CEO.

Red Bull Racing has always talked up the value of being able to make quick decisions independent of the corporate structure, said need for independence a key reason why negotiations to partner with Porsche from F1 2026 broke down.

And Marko confirms that this dynamic remains intact with Mintzlaff at the helm.

“I report directly, before it was Mateschitz and now Mintzlaff,” Marko confirmed.

“We have the flexibility of quick decisions, which means we don’t have a big board behind us where that is much more difficult.

“It was not so clear in the meantime after the death of Mr Mateschitz how things would continue, but that has been settled in the meantime and we have again this freedom and the quick decision-making that we had when Mateschitz was alive.”

Red Bull are marching towards a fresh Formula 1 title double, with Max Verstappen 125 points clear of team-mate Sergio Perez at the top of theDrivers’ Championship在奔驰,而红牛是256点front in the Constructors’ standings.