Helmut Marko, a key advisor and one of the architects of Red Bull’s success, has retired at the age of 82. Reports suggest that internal discord contributed to his departure, including an incident where he allegedly included Formula 2 talent Alex Dunne in the talent program without permission.
Helmut Marko was closely involved in Red Bull’s initial foray into motorsport in the 1990s. As a former driver, team boss, and manager, he played a pivotal role in the eventual establishment of the Formula 1 team and was a trusted confidant of Red Bull’s top executive, Dietrich Mateschitz. When the latter passed away in 2022, it led to a power struggle within the team. Marko, a prominent figure within the Austrian faction, found himself at odds with team boss Christian Horner and the Thai majority shareholders. This year, Sports CEO Oliver Mintzlaff intervened and dismissed Horner.
Helmut Marko and Alex Dunne
However, Helmut Marko found himself in internal controversy again in recent months. According to various sources, he independently approached Formula 2 talent Alex Dunne for a contract with Red Bull’s training program. The Irish driver subsequently terminated his partnership with McLaren and accepted Marko’s offer. However, the Austrian talent scout was overruled by Red Bull management, who had little faith in Dunne.
Marko also drew criticism after the Qatar Grand Prix. He openly claimed that Andrea Kimi Antonelli had let rival Lando Norris pass to aid him in the title fight. Norris ultimately finished in P4, ahead of the young Italian, thereby limiting the damage in the standings. If the McLaren driver had finished in P5, Max Verstappen would have ultimately won the championship. Red Bull later apologized for Marko’s comments, especially as Antonelli began receiving hate messages and threats on social media.
