Helmut Marko will depart Red Bull at the end of the 2025 season, bringing an end to a 20-year association with the company’s Formula 1 programme.
Marko has served as motorsport advisor since Red Bull Racing entered Formula 1 in 2005 and has also overseen the organisation’s second team, Racing Bulls, which joined the grid as Toro Rosso in 2006.
The 82-year-old has maintained a particularly close relationship with Max Verstappen and was widely believed to have played a significant role during 2024, when Verstappen’s future at the team was uncertain amid allegations involving Christian Horner that were later dismissed.
Marko has been central to the operation of Red Bull’s junior driver programme, which has become one of the most influential — and ruthless — talent pipelines in Formula 1. Under his leadership, young drivers were regularly fast-tracked or released with little hesitation, a philosophy that defined Red Bull’s approach to driver development.
Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff is understood to be pursuing a fresh direction for the company’s Formula 1 teams. Marko’s departure, following the dismissal of Christian Horner earlier this summer, forms part of a wider reshaping of Red Bull’s leadership structure.
Red Bull formally confirmed Marko’s exit on Tuesday. Mintzlaff, the company’s chief executive for corporate projects and investments, said in a statement that the decision had come directly from Marko himself.
“Helmut approached me with the 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 earned incomparable merits for our team and the entire Red Bull motorsport family. He played a decisive role in all key strategic decisions that made Red Bull Racing what it is today: a multiple world champion, an engine of innovation, and a cornerstone of international motorsport.
“His instinct for exceptional talent not only shaped our junior program but also left a lasting impact on Formula 1 as a whole. Names like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen stand for the many drivers who were discovered, supported, and guided to the very top under his leadership. His passion, his courage to make clear decisions, and his ability to spot potential will remain unforgettable.
“After a long and intensive conversation, I knew I had to respect his wishes, as I gained the impression that the timing felt right for him to take 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.
“Helmut Marko will be deeply missed, both personally and professionally. We wish him all the very best for the future and hope that he will remain closely and warmly connected to the team.”
During Marko’s tenure, Red Bull’s junior programme has produced 20 drivers who went on to secure Formula 1 race seats.
Marko: Verstappen title near-miss ‘moved me deeply’
In Red Bull’s official announcement, Marko reflected on his time with the team and explained the personal reasoning behind his decision.
“I’ve been involved in motorsport for six decades now, and the past 20-plus years at Red Bull have been an extraordinary and extremely successful journey.
“It has been a wonderful time that I have been able to help shape and share with so many talented people. Everything we have built and achieved together fills me with pride.”
“Narrowly missing out on the world championship this season has moved me deeply and made it clear to me that now is the right moment for me personally to end this very long, intense, and successful chapter.
“I wish the entire team continued success and am convinced that they will be fighting for both world championship titles again next year.”
Verstappen paid tribute to Marko shortly afterwards with a message posted on Instagram.
“Thank you, Helmut,” he wrote.
“We’ve achieved everything we ever dreamed of together. I’m forever grateful for your belief in me.”
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies also spoke about Marko’s contribution following the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.
“Helmut has been incredible in how supportive he has been into helping us turning around things this year.
“Obviously, him and top management had quite a few difficult decisions to make in the year, and of course, we always know F1 is not a static environment. You always adjust your organisations.
“It applies to technical, it applies to sporting, and it’s completely normal that we review how we can improve the way we operate all the time. I’m not saying that specifically for Helmut, but I’m saying that in general, we are in an environment where we always challenge each other and look for the next steps, no matter how small it is in trying to work together.
“But I can only thank Helmut for the role he has played into making fundamentally better what looked like a difficult situation mid-season.”
Will Marko’s departure impact Verstappen?
Verstappen has previously described Marko as an “important pillar” within Red Bull and a “second father”, reflecting the depth of their relationship since they first met when Verstappen was just 15 years old in 2013.
Marko was instrumental in securing Verstappen for Red Bull, accelerating his rise to Formula 1 after only a single season in Formula 3. That decision led to Verstappen becoming the youngest driver in F1 history at just 17 years old in 2015.
The Dutchman has remained loyal to Marko for backing him so decisively at such a young age, convincing Red Bull to take what many at the time viewed as a significant risk.
Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028, but his future has been the subject of speculation over the past two seasons due to internal tensions with Horner — who departed earlier this year — and fluctuations in car performance.
Ultimately, performance remains the decisive factor in Verstappen’s future, particularly with the introduction of new regulations in 2026 that are expected to reshuffle the competitive order.
Red Bull’s strong development during the second half of the season, when they nearly completed a remarkable comeback to deny McLaren and Lando Norris the Drivers’ Championship, will have reassured Verstappen.
However, his priority remains having a car capable of winning in 2026. Even with a more settled environment at Red Bull than in recent years, on-track competitiveness will outweigh all other considerations — meaning Marko’s departure is unlikely to significantly influence Verstappen’s thinking about his future.
Seen in:
