P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Helmut Marko opens up on life at Red Bull following Christian Horner’s shock exit earlier this year
Helmut Marko acknowledged that Red Bull has gained advantages from a change in F1 team principal, comparing it to a football team changing its manager. Christian Horner was succeeded by Laurent Mekies before the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix in July, concluding Horner’s 20-year leadership era with the team. Although Horner steered Red Bull to dominance in the early 2010s with Sebastian Vettel clinching four consecutive drivers’ championships, relations soured within the team leading to his departure. Red Bull saw renewed success in 2021 when Max Verstappen emerged victorious over Lewis Hamilton, signifying a fresh era of triumph for the team. The transition to Laurent Mekies as the new principal sparked a resurgence in performance, notably aiding Verstappen to secure victories and stand a chance at closing the points gap to current leader Lando Norris ahead of upcoming races in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.
