P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The 80something advisor to Red Bull’s driving stars is still very much in the picture
According to Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies, the 82-year-old Austrian sport legend Helmut Marko, a key figure in the F1 world for over two decades, has not actually retired.
Marko, famous for discovering talents like Verstappen, Vettel, Ricciardo, and Sainz, still plays a crucial role behind the scenes at Red Bull, offering guidance to both current drivers and the junior program.
Although Marko officially stepped away from his role at the end of the 2025 season, his influence continues to be felt within the organization, even though others now lead the development of emerging talent.
Marko’s departure had a significant impact on Verstappen, who considered him a second father, and they still maintain a strong bond with regular meetings outside of the F1 circuit.
Mekies underlines that Marko’s legacy and guidance remain invaluable to the team, emphasizing that they can always count on him when needed, despite his reduced presence at the Grand Prix events.
