Helmut Marko Addresses Alleged Power Struggles With Christian Horner

Thursday, 19 October 2023 at 13:00

Updated at Wednesday, 25 October 2023 at 21:33

Red Bull Racing F1 team advisor Helmut Marko recently addressed rumors of power struggles between him and the team principal, Christian Horner.

Helmut Marko has been with Red Bull Racing since the early beginnings of the team. The Austrian joined the Red Bull Racing F1 family in 2005 when he became an advisor to both Red Bull and Scuderia Toro Rosso (now known as AlphaTauri).

Along with the team principal, Christian Horner, he was an essential part of the team's achievements from 2010-2013, when the team managed to win four consecutive World Championships with Sebastian Vettel.

Marko also played a crucial role in securing Max Verstappen, who won three consecutive Drivers' World Championships and two Constructors' Championships with the Red Bull team and is already considered one of the best drivers ever.

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Marko and Horner have enjoyed close collaboration throughout both successful and not-so-successful seasons in Red Bull. However, recently, rumors have been surfacing about power struggles between the two and an alleged summit this week to decide about Marko's separation from the team.

In his recent interview with OE24, Marko responded to these rumors after being prompted by the reporter who asked about the time and place of the rumored summit.

"There is no summit this week. I have a contract until the end of next year. When and how I stop, when it's over, I decide and not, for example, Mr. Horner."

The Austrian seems to be confident in his contract with the team that lasts until the end of next season. Marko hinted something might be going on inside the team when he added:

"Due to the new constellation [after the death of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz a year ago], everything is different. People are trying to redefine their powers."

By people who "are trying to redefine their powers," Marko might mean the team principal Christian Horner. On the other hand, the sentence might also be describing somebody completely different.

The Milton Keynes team is enjoying a dominant season this year, so it would be strange to see Helmut Marko separate from the team now. For now, we have to wait and see how the situation develops.