Helmut Marko is reportedly receiving a severance package of around 10 million euros following his departure from Red Bull Racing. This amount is said to correspond to his full annual salary for 2026 and is part of a golden handshake, according to the German media outlet BILD.
Parent company Red Bull GmbH announced on Tuesday that Marko is leaving as senior advisor to the Formula 1 team after more than twenty years. The news came a few days after the season finale in Abu Dhabi, which sparked speculation about the future of the now 82-year-old Austrian.
Over the past two decades, Marko has played a key role in Red Bull’s success in Formula 1. As the architect of the talent program, he was instrumental in promoting young drivers to the top. Under his guidance, Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, among others, made their debut at Red Bull. Both drivers went on to become four-time world champions, with Vettel also still holding the record as the youngest world champion in the history of Formula 1. Marko’s contribution to these successes is seen as highly valuable within the company.
Bearing Witness to Appreciation
According to BILD, the severance payment is explicitly intended as a token of appreciation for Marko’s services. The payment is said to be separate from any contractual obligations and is described as recognition for his role in discovering and mentoring exceptional talents.
Before his work at Red Bull, Marko was also active as a driver. He made nine starts in Formula 1 and won the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1971. With Marko’s departure from Red Bull, an era comes to an end.
