Helmut Marko’s departure from Red Bull Racing at the end of 2025 did not mean a complete withdrawal of the veteran executive and now former team consultant. According to Laurent Mekies, team principal, the Austrian remains in frequent contact with team members and continues to offer guidance behind the scenes in Formula 1.
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This revelation shows that, even outside his official role, Marko still exerts significant influence on the team’s operations. The impact of more than two decades leading the junior driver program makes an immediate break difficult, something recognized by Mekies himself.
Marko was at the forefront of Red Bull’s driver development for over twenty years, being identified as a key figure in the arrival of names like Max Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo and Carlos Sainz to Formula 1. In December last year, it was announced that the executive would leave his duties at the end of the 2025 season, at which point doubts arose about the future of the team’s junior driver program.
Speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast, Mekies was asked about the changes to the program following Marko’s departure. The Red Bull boss indicated that the Austrian continues to participate informally, maintaining conversations with team members, including drivers: “I’m sure they are still talking, maybe not at 7 am, but a bit later in the day,” said Mekies, referring to Marko’s traditional early morning calls to young drivers.
“Helmut has remained very open and available to us. I talk to him, they do too, I’m sure we’re all talking to him and getting guidance, even if you don’t see him showing up at the tracks,” he added.
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Mekies also highlighted that Marko’s influence over two decades makes a quick transition impossible. According to him, the legacy left by the Austrian remains an important foundation for the team’s current work.
“You don’t turn the page on Helmut, who built this junior driver program for two decades with incredible success. You don’t turn that page quickly. We are living that legacy now and as I said, he is around the corner, should we need him,” Mekies concluded.
The statement reinforces that, despite the official departure, Marko continues to play an informal role at Red Bull. Even away from the tracks, his experience and influence remain present in the team’s daily life and in the development of new talent.
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