Red Bull Racing advisory Helmut Marko has reportedly signed a three-year contract extension with Red Bull after a few weeks of uncertainty.
Helmut Marko has been with the Red Bull Racing team ever since its inception in 2005. His role has been related to driver development.
The Austrian identifies and nurtures young talent in the Red Bull Racing academy. He also works closely with Christian Horner and has an important say in decisions related to drivers both in Red Bull and AlphaTauri.
Towards the end of the season, rumors spread about the supposed power struggles and conflict between Marko and the Red Bull F1 team principal.
The 80-year-old's contract with the team was set to expire, and Horner was reportedly trying to "axe" him. The team principal denied these rumors, saying he wouldn't be where he is without the Austrian.
Nevertheless, Marko's future with Red Bull was not certain, and there was an important meeting with team bosses to be held after the 2023 season to determine his future with the team.
Red Bull's advisor was recently asked about the meeting OE24, and he replied his future with the team was positive. The Austrian himself did not reveal much other than he would be with Red Bull next season.
However, according to the formula.hu, Marko signed a three-year extension with the team from Milton Keynes, which suggests we will see the advisor on the grid until at least the end of 2027.
While some of Marko's decisions and public opinions have been quite controversial over the years, his contributions to Red Bull and its sister team are undeniable.
The results in the past three seasons show Red Bull runs like a well-oiled machine, and Red Bull leaders seem to have gone by the motto: "If it works, don't fix it," concerning Marko's stay with the team.
Max Verstappen expressed a very similar opinion a few months ago when rumors about the conflict between Horner and Marko surfaced. The Dutchman said everybody in the team right now is essential to its success:
"The atmosphere in the team is great and everyone knows exactly what their role is. Everyone who is with us now is very important to our success. That's why there will be no changes in the future."