Marko about GP Austria: "Our original idea was only changed once"

Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko soon had the idea of starting the 2020 F1 season on the Red Bull Ring. When the Canadian Grand Prix was cancelled earlier this year Marko started thinking about it.

Organisation

"So I called Chase Carey and told him we could have a Grand Prix. Then we negotiated with Liberty Media how to change the contracts", Marko told Auto, Motor und Sport.

However, this was only the first step of a long journey. "Then I went to Mateschitz", Marko continued. "It was discussed and then, as usual with us, there was a very non bureaucratic yes of the highest word. Then the first contacts were made with the government. From there, there was also the willingness to approve the whole thing under strict conditions."

Original idea

"The original concept was only improved once. Our advantage was that we already had a good template for our involvement in the German football league. It was then adapted to our needs. Of course, insanely detailed and careful", Marko concludes.

However, Marko has to sacrifice a lot. He cannot go back to Graz, but has to stay in a hotel in Spielberg. Also he can't talk to the Formula 2 and Formula 3 drivers of Red Bull, because they have to live in a different bubble.