Marko stays – and Horner?
The explosion at Red Bull has been canceled for now
March 9, 2024, 6:06 p.m
Things are going well at Red Bull this season, and there’s little standing in the way of superstar Max Verstappen’s fourth world championship title. But the successful racing team is on fire. A first fire could now be extinguished – at least for the time being.
The ongoing power struggle at Red Bull Racing apparently has no consequences for Helmut Marko for the time being. According to his own statement, the long-time motorsport consultant from Austria is not in danger of being suspended; he said this in several TV interviews shortly before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. On Friday evening, Marko fueled speculation about world champion Max Verstappen’s team with a few statements. Now he said clearly: “I’ll carry on, yes.”
This Saturday there was “a very good conversation” with Red Bull managing director Oliver Mintzlaff, Marko said on Sky, among others, and there was agreement. Mintzlaff had also previously made similar statements without mentioning the outcome of the conversation.
On Friday evening after the reports emerged, Verstappen underlined the importance of Marko and even linked his own future with that of the 80-year-old. “I’ve always said clearly that he has to stay, I can’t continue without him,” said Verstappen. It remains unclear whether the conversation between Marko and Mintzlaff will have consequences for team boss Christian Horner.
“Horner wouldn’t survive that.”
RTL/ntv reporter Felix Görner, who has been following Formula 1 for many years, considers Marko’s hints about his own farewell to be preparation for the final between him and Horner. The question recently was whether Marko would publicly threaten his own departure in order to increase the pressure on boss Mintzlaff to throw Horner out, said Görner. “Marko has Max Verstappen as a bargaining chip. If Marko is kicked out, one has to assume that Verstappen will start negotiations with Mercedes. And a change from Verstappen would be a catastrophe for Red Bull. Horner couldn’t survive that at the latest.”
The Verstappen family is very clear in their dealings with Horner: “I have already said that there will be problems if he stays,” said Max Verstappen’s father Jos, referring to Horner, to the English newspaper “Daily Mail”. “I think it’s too late for Christian to say, ‘Leave me alone.’ But Horner has the support of the Thai majority owners of the parent company Red Bull. “So I think he will stay until the end of the season.” Formula 1 expert Görner is sure that by the time Verstappen seriously flirts with switching to rival Mercedes, “the Thai majority owner will also notice that something has gone wrong.”
Weeks ago, an internal investigation against Horner became known following allegations from an employee, but it is now clear that a power struggle is raging within the team. Only 49 percent of the company is located in Austria. Marko confirmed that there will be a meeting between the two partners on Sunday.