Marko backs Schumacher’s ‘absolute lie’ response to Horner’s Verstappen claim
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
Kieran is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs and feature content across the F1 calendar. An NQJ-qualified journalist with more than a decade of experience, he has previously written for publications including MailOnline, the Manchester Evening News and the Eastern Daily Press.
Helmut Marko has dismissed Christian Horner’s account of Max Verstappen’s path into the Red Bull programme, backing Ralf Schumacher after the former F1 driver branded the claim an “absolute lie”.
Horner’s forthcoming autobiography, Drive, has prompted a response from his former Red Bull colleague. The ex-team principal reportedly claims that Marko was not initially interested in signing Verstappen, with the four-time world champion's father Jos said to have played a key role in making the deal happen. However, Marko has rejected that version of events.
Speaking to Austrian outlet oe24, the former Red Bull motorsport advisor said: “I’m ignoring it as much as possible.” Asked about Schumacher’s particularly strong criticism of Horner’s claim, Marko added: “Ralf Schumacher handled it very well.”
In an episode of the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, Schumacher insisted Marko made his interest clear when Verstappen was still very young, claiming the Austrian approached him when he was around 11-and-a-half years old. According to Schumacher, Jos Verstappen felt the timing was too early, leading Marko to step back rather than pushing for an immediate agreement.
Marko recalls Verstappen’s route to Red Bull
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Marko largely agreed with that recollection, explaining that Verstappen’s development ultimately made the later reunion possible.
“It worked out well the way it did,” Marko said. “Max was successful in karting back then, and we had no idea about that. Later in Formula 3, we would have grown closer again, and that’s how this unprecedented success story came about.”
The disagreement comes amid long-running tensions between Horner and Marko, whose relationship became increasingly strained following the death of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz.
Marko also offered a sharp counterclaim regarding Verstappen’s famous promotion from Toro Rosso to Red Bull in 2016. Verstappen replaced Daniil Kvyat ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix and immediately won on his debut for the senior team.
“I“I brought Max into Formula 1 and had to stand my ground against Horner at his first race for Red Bull in Barcelona,” Marko recalled. “He thought Max was too young, too inexperienced."
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With Horner’s book due for release later this month, the row over one of Formula 1’s most successful driver-team partnerships appears far from over.
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