Marko considered leaving: 'Already thought about it last year'

Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing's team principal, went out of his way on Saturday after the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix to convince the outside world that the ranks within the Austrian team have closed again. Whether that is really the case remains to be seen in the coming weeks. In any case, Helmut Marko - with whom Horner is now said to be at odds - flew back to Europe with Max Verstappen.

Normally Horner and Marko fly to and from Grands Prix together, but so that has now been broken. Is it a sign? In any case, it is clear that Marko had a meeting with Red Bull GmbH's management on Saturday, a meeting that apparently gave the 80-year-old such confidence that he will not resign from his duties at Max Verstappen's team.

Marko to leave Red Bull Racing or not?

In the run-up to the race in Jeddah, doubts had been raised about this; firstly because of rumours that Marko was about to be suspended due to alleged leaks to media in the Horner case. In addition, Marko expressed doubts about whether he wanted to stay on at Red Bull at all, with an internal power struggle going on.

Marko told De Telegraaf that he had had doubts about continuing for some time. "I was already thinking about leaving at the end of last season. But I think we should also think about team founder Dietrich Mateschitz and his legacy, what his ideas were and where it has taken us. We owe that to him, but I also see it as a kind of respect to an incredibly amazing personality. What happens when Max is done with it? Then we will discuss that internally. But I am sure a door will open everywhere for him," Marko said.

On Saturday, Marko indicated he would also be present at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. A story is currently circulating about Horner that he will be fired by the next Grand Prix.