Former Red Bull senior adviser Helmut Marko has ruled out any return to Formula 1. The 82-year-old Austrian announced his retirement at the end of last year. For the past two decades he was one of the key figures within Red Bull’s ranks. He played a central role in developing new talent, including future champions Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.
Marko has been enjoying a well-deserved retirement for some time now. Next season he will watch Formula 1 from the sidelines for the first time. “I’m no longer fully involved, but I’m completely up to date,” he told Austrian broadcaster ORF. “The good thing is I don’t feel the pressure anymore. I no longer lie awake thinking: ‘What if the engine fails, or something else happens?’ and so on.”
‘A comeback is out of the question’
“I don’t have that direct responsibility anymore,” he added, relaxed. “Of course I want Red Bull to deliver the best possible results, but the whole situation is much more relaxed now.” There has been recent speculation that Marko might take a new role with another Formula 1 team. The senior adviser has, after all, a proven track record; during his time at Red Bull he brought major champions like Vettel and Verstappen into the top flight.
Despite persistent rumours, Marko insisted he has definitively closed the door on his Formula 1 career. He admits there have been offers, but he has no intention of taking on a new role. “Yes, it is absolutely out of the question that I’ll return to Formula 1,” he said emphatically. “Every now and then I’ve had very vague, but also interesting requests and conversations. But I have been successful in Formula 1 with Red Bull, and that must remain the case. Nothing will replace that.”
