Dr. Helmut Marko’s is leaving Red Bull at the end of the 2025, marking the end of one of F1’s most influential backroom careers outside of the drivers. For twenty years, he sat at the centre of the team’s driver policy and competitive strategy. His decisions shaped championships, altered careers, and guided Red Bull from ambitious newcomer to an established powerhouse.
A builder of champions
Marko oversaw Red Bull’s driver programme long before the company entered F1. When the team launched in 2005, he brought his system with him. He identified young talent early, accelerated careers, and demanded relentless performance. His decisions pushed drivers forward or swept them aside, sometimes within a single season.
That approach produced results. Under his watch, Red Bull built one of the sport’s strongest talent pipelines. Sebastian Vettel rose through it and delivered a string of world titles. Max Verstappen, promoted at a bold moment in 2016, became the cornerstone of the team’s second period of dominance. The Austrian’s judgement shaped both their careers and the team’s competitive identity.
A force behind the scenes
Although he never ran the team directly, Marko influenced strategy at every level. Team principals came and went, particularly at the junior team, but his voice carried unusual authority. He insisted on clarity, speed and ambition. These qualities helped Red Bull transform from an outsider brand into a serial championship contender.
His departure signalled more than the end of a contract. It marked a shift in Red Bull’s internal structure, which had already begun to evolve after significant leadership changes earlier in the year. For many inside the paddock, Marko represented continuity with the team’s original philosophy: sharp decisions, fearless promotion of youth, and uncompromising expectations.
Looking ahead without its architect
Red Bull now faced a future in F1 without Marko as the architect of its driver system. Replacing his instincts and authority posed a challenge that no simple restructuring could solve. The team’s past success rested not only on resources but also on the aggressive talent culture Marko enforced.
His exit left space for a new era, shaped by different personalities and priorities. Whether that shift would soften the team’s approach or simply repackage it remained uncertain. What was clear was this: Red Bull’s rise from newcomer to powerhouse carried Marko’s fingerprints at every stage.
As the paddock looked toward 2026 and a new technical cycle, Formula One moved on. But Marko’s influence lingered—in the champions he nurtured, the careers he accelerated, and the uncompromising standards he set. His era ended, but the structure he built continued to define Red Bull’s identity long after he stepped away.
Helmut Marko, Red Bull motorsport advisor:
“I have been involved in motorsport for six decades now, and the past 20-plus years at Red Bull have been an extraordinary and extremely successful journey. It has been a wonderful time that I have been able to help shape and share with so many talented people. Everything we have built and achieved together fills me with pride.
“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.“
Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO Corporate Projects and Investments, Red Bull:
“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.
“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.”
Laurent Mekies, Red Bull F1 Team Principal:
“It is very sad news that Helmut is leaving us. He has been such an integral part of our Team and of Red Bull’s entire motor racing programme for more than two decades. This is therefore the end of a remarkably successful chapter. His departure will leave a void, and we will truly miss him.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude for his unwavering support, not only over the past months, but also during my early days at Scuderia Toro Rosso.
“On a personal note, Helmut, along with Oliver Mintzlaff, was the driving force behind bringing me back into the Red Bull family, first in Faenza and then this summer in my current role in Milton Keynes.
“Helmut is a real racer at heart, always pushing us to the limit, always prepared to take risks in pursuit of our goals.”
