Helmut Marko sees no reason to regret the numerous changes Red Bull has made to its driver lineup over the years. The advisor to the Austrian team emphasizes that the tough decisions are in line with the nature of Formula 1. No apologies are to be expected.
This season, Liam Lawson was immediately affected: after just two Grands Prix in the Red Bull, the New Zealander was demoted to the subsidiary team, Racing Bulls. Daniel Ricciardo, who made his comeback as an interim replacement for Nyck de Vries in 2023, had to make way a year later. De Vries himself was ruthlessly sidelined at AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls) after just ten races last year.
Marko, who has been responsible for the Red Bull junior program for over twenty years, defends the way he and Red Bull deal with drivers in a podcast from F1-Insider. “Actually, I still stand by those decisions. More than 95 percent of the drivers who could not stay in our program subsequently race in Formula E, WEC, DTM, or elsewhere,” said the 82-year-old Austrian.
‘They are not amateurs’
According to Marko, these drivers do indeed get opportunities in motorsport. “They are not amateurs, but professionals who earn good money, often more than in a civilian profession. They can do what they love most, and that is racing. And in many cases, that has been made possible by our support.”
The Red Bull advisor emphasizes that the bar in Formula 1 is always high: “It is the pinnacle of motorsport. Not only talent is required for this, but also special qualities and a certain mental and physical strength.”
