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Latest reports coming out of Red Bull Racing suggest that Helmut Marko’s impending departure has been triggered by growing frustration within the team’s new management. His approach to former McLaren junior Alex Dunne and comments made about Kimi Antonelli after the Qatar GP appear to be key factors behind his exit.
Helmut Marko had seemingly won the internal power struggle at Red Bull earlier in the year when Christian Horner was removed from his role as team principal and CEO in July. At the time, it was believed that Marko and Oliver Mintzlaff represented the Austrian faction that had grown unhappy with Horner’s expanding influence.
However, the dynamic shifted once Mintzlaff assumed greater control in his position as CEO of Corporate Projects and New Investments at Red Bull GmbH. In the months following Horner’s departure, a rift appears to have emerged between Mintzlaff and Marko as well.
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According to Dutch journalist Erik van Haren, Marko independently approached former McLaren junior Alex Dunne and even agreed to bring the Irish driver into the Red Bull stable. Dunne terminated his McLaren contract, yet Red Bull’s senior management overruled Marko’s decision. This is understood to be where the tensions first escalated.
Van Haren also reported that the team's management did not receive Helmut Marko’s remarks about Kimi Antonelli well after the Qatar Grand Prix. The 82-year-old blamed Antonelli for moving aside for Lando Norris during the race, a statement that led to the Mercedes rookie receiving significant online abuse. The fallout from those comments is believed to have further compromised Marko’s position.
Following the incident, Red Bull management reportedly held discussions with Marko ahead of the Abu Dhabi GP, where it was decided that both parties would be better off parting ways.
Red Bull boss says team will review operations amid talks of Helmut Marko's imminent exit
peaking after the Abu Dhabi GP, Red Bull Racing CEO and team principal Laurent Mekies offered his view on Helmut Marko’s uncertain future, noting that the team is evaluating how to strengthen its operations ahead of the 2026 regulations.
Addressing the media after the season finale, the Frenchman praised Marko’s contribution in 2025 before stressing that it is "normal" for Red Bull to plan for the future.
"Helmut has been incredible in how supportive he has been in helping us turn around things this year. Obviously, he and the top management had quite a few difficult decisions to make in the year," said Mekies [via GPblog].
"Formula 1 is not a static environment. You always make adjustments to your organization. It applies to the technical and sporting side and it is completely normal that we review how we can improve the way we operate all the time," he added.
Mekies clarified that his remarks were not directed at Helmut Marko specifically but referred to the team as a whole, as Red Bull aims to take further steps forward. He closed by thanking Marko once again for his influence in Red Bull’s strong second half of the season, which saw Max Verstappen re-enter the drivers' title fight and fall short of Lando Norris by only two points in the end.
