Helmut Marko departs Red Bull after more than 20 years in advisor role

Red Bull’s Motorsport Advisor Hermut Marko has decided to leave the team just days after Max Verstappen narrowly missed out on a fifth successive driver’s title.

Marko has been one of the most significant figures behind Red Bull’s success over the last 20 years, overseeing 132 race wins, eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ titles, as well as two race wins for sister team Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri. A six-decade career in motorsport also culminated in a role as head of the Red Bull Junior Program, overseeing the development and promotion of 20 graduates to Formula 1, including Max Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel, Carlos Sainz and Daniel Ricciardo.

The 82-year-old joins other major recent departures, Adrian Newey and Christian Horner, ahead of one of the most significant seasons in Formula 1 history.

Sebastian Vettel celebrates with Marko after winning the 2009 Japanese Grand Prix

Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images

“Now is the right moment”

Marko reflected on the outcome of the 2025 season when explaining his decision, saying: “Narrowly missing out on the world championship this season has moved me deeply and made it clear to me that now is the right moment for me personally to end this very long, intense, and successful chapter.

I wish the entire team continued success and am convinced that they will be fighting for both world championship titles again next year.“

“I deeply regret his decision”

Red Bull’s CEO Corporate Projects and Investments, Oliver Mintzlaff, spoke about the moment Marko informed him of his decision to leave, and highlighted the impact the departing advisor had on the company.

Oliver Minzlaff: “Helmut approached me with the wish to end his role as motorsport advisor at the end of the year. 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.”

Max Verstappen and Marko after the Dutch driver’s 2025 win in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images

“His departure will leave a significant gap”

Minzlaff continued: “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.

“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. 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.”

Dr Helmut Marko and Masashi Yamamoto of Honda celebrate Max Verstappen’s maiden drivers’ championship win in Abu Dhabi

Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images

All eyes on 2026

Despite the 2025 season ending mere days ago, attention will now turn to next season, with Max Verstappen being joined at Red Bull by new teammate Isack Hadjar.

Incoming regulatory changes in Formula 1 give the 2026 season great significance in the sport's history. Analysts have suggested it will lead to a more even playing field and no clear favourite, a relative rarity during the last couple of decades. Other changes also see Sauber become Audi, while the arrival of Cadillac brings a whole new flavour to F1 and increases the number of drivers on the grid to 22.

Pre-season testing begins in Bahrain on February 11, before the first race of the season in Melbourne on March 8.

words: Mike Booth
pictures: Red Bull Content Pool