Sandy is a Formula 1 journalist at GPblog with growing expertise in the sport. Combining hands-on experience in interviews and paddock access with her studies in sports communication, she provides reliable coverage and fresh insights into the pinnacle of motorsport.
Top advisor Helmut Marko is the most important figure who selects drivers for the Red Bull Junior Team. He is also the one who decides which drivers get promoted, and who is let go. The 2025 Formula 1 grid shows once again how good Marko is at his role.
At the age of 81, Helmut Marko is still very much involved in the Red Bull family. For instance, he was also one of the key figures in the decision behind Sergio Perez's departure and the appointment of Liam Lawson as his replacement. Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar also got a chance at Visa Cash App RB partly because of him.
Marko's track record
That Marko has an eye for talent is shown by the 2025 Formula 1 grid itself. Indeed, as many as eight of the 20 drivers have been affiliated with the Red Bull Junior Team at some point. This is 40 per cent of the entire field.
These drivers are Max Verstappen, Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar, Yuki Tsunoda, Alexander Albon, Carlos Sainz, Jack Doohan and Pierre Gasly. Albon and Gasly once drove for Red Bull Racing, but they were either let go or sent back to Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri. Next year, it will be Lawson who gets to show what he can do as Verstappen's teammate from 2025.
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This article was written in collaboration with Kada Sárközi
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