Mintzlaff 'deeply regrets' Marko departure after 'long and intensive conversation'

15:56, 09 Dec

Updated: 17:14, 09 Dec

byOlly Darcy

Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull's Managing Director, said he "deeply regrets" seeing Helmut Marko depart after a "long and intensive conversation".

"Over more than 20 years, Helmut has earned incomparable merits for our team and the entire Red Bull motorsport family."

- Oliver Mintzlaff

The 82-year-old will leave the Austrian team after 20 years as motorsport advisor and head of the Young Driver Program, just two days after Max Verstappen missed out on a fifth consecutive World Championship to Lando Norris by just two points in Abu Dhabi.

Marko has been a part of the Austrian team since they joined Formula 1 in 2005, overseeing six Constructors' Championships and eight Drivers' Championships, with Red Bull now a dominant force in F1.

“Helmut approached me with the wish to end his role as motorsport advisor at the end of the year," Mintzlaff said in Red Bull's press release regarding Marko's departure.

marko-max verstappen-qatar-red bull content pool-jpeg

Marko oversaw 17 drivers from Red Bull's young program into Formula 1, including four-time World Champion Max Verstappen - Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

"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.

'Gratitude' for Marko after 20 years at Red Bull

Since joining Red Bull in 2005, along with the 14 world titles won by the Austrian team, Marko has been instrumental with Red Bull notching 130 wins and 233 podiums across those 20 years.

However, the partnership will now come to an end, with Marko seeing the narrow miss of the 2025 drivers' title as the right time to leave F1.

"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," continued Mintzlaff.

Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen Red Bull

Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen - Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

"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.”

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