Max Verstappen: Helmut Marko ‘has to stay’ at Red Bull, and says his future at F1 team depends on advisor’s staying
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Max Verstappen has told Sky Sports his Red Bull future depends on Helmut Marko staying at the team.
Amid the ongoing scrutiny on Red Bull following the conclusion of the investigation into Christian Horner, which resulted in allegations of inappropriate behaviour made against the team principal by a female colleague being dismissed, questions surrounding Marko’s future at the team have emerged at the Saudi Arabian GP.
Marko, who is employed as a motorsport advisor by Red Bull’s parent company in Austria rather than the F1 team directly, was a close confidant of Dietrich Mateschitz, the company’s co-founder who died in October 2022, and has been a senior figure during the company’s two decades in the sport, overseeing its young driver programme of which Verstappen is a star graduate.
Media at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix claim the 80-year-old is under investigation in connection with information leaks relating to the probe into Horner’s alleged inappropriate behaviour with a female colleague. The allegations against Horner were dismissed and subsequently his accuser has been suspended on full pay.
Asked by Austrian TV channel ORF about the possibility of a suspension being imposed from Monday, Marko said: “I’ll put it this way, it’s difficult to judge, or let’s put it this way, ultimately, I’ll decide for myself what I do.
“The theoretical possibility always exists. I think it’s such a complex issue. Again, we want peace in the team. This world championship will be difficult enough with 24 races and we have to concentrate on that.”
Marko told Sky Germany he would have a meeting with Red Bull chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff on Saturday to discuss his future, but admitted he might decide of his own accord not to carry on in his role.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 in the wake of the reports surrounding Marko after qualifying at the Saudi Arabian GP, Verstappen replied when asked what impact any exit for Marko would have on the team: “Helmut and I, we have a lot of respect for each other.
“My loyalty in general to Red Bull, but also to him, after all for what he has done for me goes very far.
“I’ve always said, especially after Dietrich’s passing, with everyone in the team, that I find it really important that we keep the key team together because that’s how we have performed really well and that’s how we will perform really well in the future. They know that.
“For me, Helmut is a very key factor in that and he has to stay for me, for sure.”
Asked if Marko needed to stay for him to also stay, Verstappen said: “I’ve always said that to the team, they know that.”
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Verstappen’s Red Bull contract runs to the end of the 2028 season but speculation about his future has swirled after his father, Jos, said at last weekend’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix that the team was “in danger of being torn apart” if Horner remained in his role.
Asked on Wednesday by Sky Sports F1 if there was any circumstance in which he could see himself not driving a Red Bull in 2025, Verstappen said: “Things must go really crazy, I guess.
“But that’s not the target for everyone.”
When asked on Friday if any departure for Marko would represent something “crazy”, Verstappen replied: “That’s quite an understatement if that happens. That’s crazy. Let’s see what happens. We’ll see if something happens next week.”
Sky Sports F1’s live Saudi Arabian GP schedule
Saturday March 9
- 12pm: F1 Academy Race 2
- 1.20pm: F2 Feature Race
- 3.30pm: Saudi Arabian GP build-up: Grand Prix Saturday
- 5pm: THE SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX
- 7pm: Saudi Arabian GP reaction: Chequered flag
- 9.30pm: Saudi Arabian GP highlights
Watch the second round of the new F1 season – the Saudi Arabian GP – live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership for just £21 a month for 12 months
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