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Helmut Marko highlights major contradiction over Red Bull exit
Helmut Marko has denied being pressured by CEO Oliver Mintzlaff to step down from his advisory role with Red Bull, emphasizing that it was his decision to leave the team after 20 years immediately following Max Verstappen’s near miss in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. Marko clarified that he had a meeting with Mintzlaff in Dubai where he expressed his wish to leave, leading to the acceptance of his departure due to his existing contract until 2026. The emotional moment after Verstappen narrowly missed out on the championship title was when Marko realized it was the right time to step down, with him and Verstappen’s race engineer consoling each other at the Yas Marina Circuit. Verstappen was calm and understanding when Marko informed him of the decision the following day, acknowledging the achievements they had made together. Marko anticipates his duties will not have a direct successor but will be shared among several individuals, with Red Bull having yet to make any decisions on who might fill his position in the future.
