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Helmut Marko refrained from providing specific reasons behind his decision to leave Red Bull Racing. Speaking exclusively to De Limburger in Graz, the Austrian offered a cryptic response when asked about the manner in which his departure was announced.
Racing Bulls were the first to confirm Marko’s exit via an online announcement, followed shortly by Red Bull Racing’s official statement. The press release was brief and generic, thanking the senior veteran for his contributions to the team, but its timing caught many by surprise. It also suggested that Max Verstappen's missing out on a fifth world title played a role in Marko’s decision to step down.
In the same De Limburger interview, Marko revealed that he had already decided to leave Red Bull around the time of the Qatar Grand Prix. It is understood that the decision was entirely his own. However, when he spoke to the media, including Sportskeeda in Qatar, there was no indication that such a move was imminent.
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Contrary reports from De Telegraaf suggested that several driver-related decisions taken by Marko in the weeks leading up to the season finale had upset Red Bull’s board in Austria, ultimately resulting in him being asked to step aside. In his first interview since the announcement, Marko clarified that he had not even read the press releases. Without going into further detail, he offered only guarded and ambiguous remarks regarding the wording of Red Bull’s statement.
Asked about the reasons for leaving Red Bull and if Verstappen losing his fifth was a contributor to the decision, Marko said:
“I don't want to go into too much detail, but I haven't read that press release full of nonsense. Let me say that a lot has changed in the team in a short time. You think you know people well, but in the end that turns out not to be the case... No, that's all I'm saying. And that fifth title had not made any change. It was the ultimate dream for me to make five in a row with Verstappen, the very best driver we have ever had. But it wasn't allowed to be that way, even though I had good hope for the last race.”
Helmut Marko reveals details on conflict with Christian Horner at Red Bull
Helmut Marko has suggested that internal conflicts at Red Bull Racing between himself and Christian Horner began following the death of Dietrich Mateschitz. The Austrian billionaire was the founder and owner of the Red Bull energy drink company as well as the Formula 1 team. According to Marko, Horner attempted to consolidate power within the organisation by aligning himself with Thai shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya as Mateschitz’s health began to decline in 2022.
For much of the outside world, these internal tensions remained hidden until the start of the 2024 season, when a female employee accused Horner of sexual misconduct and controlling behaviour. While the case was later reported to have been settled, it ultimately cost the Briton his position at the team. In a shock announcement in July 2025, Horner was dismissed from his roles as team principal and CEO with just 48 hours’ notice.
Marko further claimed that Horner engaged in a series of manoeuvres aimed at forcing him out of the organisation. In 2025, Yoovidhya, who held a 51% stake in the team, sold 2% of his shares to a Swiss-based trust. This move equalised the shareholding and voting power between the Thai faction and the Austrian side, led by Mark Mateschitz. The change in ownership structure reportedly led to Horner’s swift removal weeks later. Marko maintained that his primary objective throughout was to ensure that control of the Formula 1 team remained with the Austrian faction. Horner had tried to shift the power dynamic to the UK base, where Milton Keynes could have more control over both teams.
Asked about the conflict between Horner and himself within Red Bull, Mark explained:
“That's how it's always been described in the media, but it was nothing personal. Together with Didi (Dietrich Mateschitz, late founder of Red Bull) I founded Red Bull Racing in 2005. We appointed Horner as team boss, I was there as a supervisor. In principle, the power was always in Austria, we decided. I remember a party in 2022 prior to the Austrian Grand Prix. Didi was there, but not in good health. Christian came to me then and said, 'He won't make it to the end of the year.' From that moment on, he started dabbling with Chalerm Yoovidhya. When Didi died later that year, he did everything he come to take over with the support of Yoovidhya. I have done everything I can on behalf of 'Austria' to prevent that.”
Asked about whether Horner’s dismissal from Red Bull felt like a victory, Marko replied:
“No. We had to do something, because the performance on the track lag behind. By the way, if we had done that earlier, we would have gotten it on the ride faster this year and Max would have become world champion. I am firmly convinced of that. But those last years with Horner were not pleasant. Dirty games were played. Do you remember that in Sergio Pérez's time I would have said that Mexicans are less focused than the Dutch or Germans? That was manufactured, maybe by them. Just like I would have spread in 2024 that the development of our engine was behind schedule and that as a result we would lose Ford as our sponsor. Never said, but Horner wanted to use that to suspend me. Because Max jumped into the breach in Jeddah, it didn't happen.”
Since 2024, Red Bull Racing have been surrounded by drama and controversy. In 2025 alone, the team lost three central figures who were instrumental to its long-term success: Adrian Newey, Christian Horner, and Helmut Marko. The Red Bull GmbH division in Austria has since sought to exercise greater corporate control over the Formula 1 team.
From 2026, Red Bull will manufacture its own engines through the Red Bull Powertrains division, an initiative that was one of Horner’s long-standing ambitions. In the aftermath of the departures, Newey has taken up the role of team principal at Aston Martin, and Horner has been linked with a potential return to F1 amid reports of discussions with multiple teams. On the other hand, Marko is set to retire from the sport altogether.
On track, Milton Keynes-based outfit endured a difficult season by their recent standards. Max Verstappen narrowly lost the 2025 drivers’ championship to Lando Norris by just two points. They also finished third in the constructors’ championship, behind McLaren and Mercedes, marking a significant shift in the competitive order.
