Max Verstappen suffers new blow as key ally quits Red Bull simply days after Dutchman missed out on world title
Max Verstappen has suffered another blow two days after losing the world title to Lando Norris with confirmation that one of his chief backers, Helmut Marko, is leaving Red Bull.
The 82-year-old Marko, who was the energy drink company’s motorsport adviser, has been a key influence at the team throughout its existence over the last 20 years, and helped develop talents such as Verstappen and fellow four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.
Verstappen remains close to Marko, who was a chief lieutenant to Red Bull founder, the late Dietrich Mateschitz.
Neither Verstappen nor his father Jos wanted Marko to leave but, it is understood, they accepted the decision reluctantly.
In a statement announcing the departure of the former Formula One driver and Le Mans winner at the close of the season that ended in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, Marko said in a statement issued by Red Bull: ‘I have 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.
Max Verstappen has lost a key ally at Red Bull, with Helmut Marko leaving the team
The 82-year-old is close to Verstappen and has helped develop talents such as the Dutchman
‘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.’
The move underlines the power of Oliver Mintzlaff, the one-time chief executive of football’s RB Leipzig chief who is in command of Red Bull’s Formula One operation.
Mintzlaff said: ‘Helmut approached me with the wish to end his role as motorsport adviser 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.’
Marko, an abrasive, no-nonsense figure was a key ingredient in Red Bull’s success as winners of eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ titles, and Verstappen fought for him to remain in post early last year in the fallout from the Christian Horner furore, which saw the ex-team principal cleared of inappropriate behaviour towards a female employee.
