As of: March 9, 2024, 10:39 a.m
By: Marius Epp
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The house of cards of the successful Red Bull racing team is in danger of collapsing.
Formula 1 veteran Helmut Marko is apparently on the verge of retirement.
Jeddah - It's banging and hissing at the industry leader: Red Bull is already suffering immense damage to its image, and now the scandal surrounding team boss Christian Horner could have personnel consequences at the highest level.
But it is not Horner, but motorsport boss Helmut Marko who is facing the end, according to a report from ORF.
The Horner issue has been dominating Formula 1 for weeks. At the moment, no one is interested in the fact that Max Verstappen will continue to do his laps at the top in the new season.
The power struggle within his team has long since escalated and Red Bull is threatening to tear itself apart.
Dr. Helmut Marko |
|
|---|---|
Born: |
April 27, 1943 (age 80), Graz, Austria |
Jobs: |
Lawyer, hotelier, racing driver, motorsport official |
Role at Red Bull: |
Motorsport boss (since 2005) |
Greatest success as a driver: |
Victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1971) |
Power struggle at Red Bull: Does Helmut Marko have to go now?
After team boss Horner was internally acquitted of allegations of “inappropriate behavior” towards an employee, there is now an immediate farewell to Marko.
According to the ORF, the 80-year-old veteran is about to be replaced.
When asked by an ORF journalist about a possible farewell, Marko said on Friday in Jeddah: “In the end, I decide for myself what I do.
The theoretical possibility always exists.”
Three of the main protagonists in the Red Bull scandal: Max Verstappen (l.), Helmut Marko and Christian Horner (r.).
© IMAGO/Jerry Andre
Red Bull scandal: Two fronts are emerging
Above all, the Austrian gives a deep insight with another statement: “I have another conversation tomorrow.
Everything has to be right so that I want to continue working there.” A conversation between Marko and Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff is scheduled to take place on Saturday.
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Two main fronts seem to be emerging in the Red Bull power struggle: on the one hand, Horner and the Thai Red Bull owners around Chalerm Yoovidhya, and on the other, Helmut Marko and world champion Max Verstappen.
The piquant thing about a Marko exit would be that he has always been Verstappen's closest confidant and supporter.
Marko out at Red Bull?
Verstappen threatens: “Helmut has to stay”
If Marko leaves, Verstappen could leave too - according to media reports, the Dutchman even has a clause in his contract that allows him to leave early if Marko leaves the racing team.
“Helmut has to stay, that’s very important for me too.
My loyalty to him is very great, I have always communicated that to everyone in the team right up to the top,” emphasized Verstappen after qualifying in Jeddah – a clear threat.
Verstappen's father Jos had recently clearly publicly opposed Horner.
“He plays the victim while he is the one causing the problems.
If Horner stays, Red Bull will explode,” he told the
Daily Mail
, suggesting the team boss should resign.
Red Bull is sinking into chaos: is Verstappen fleeing to Mercedes?
Recently there were rumors that Verstappen could move to Mercedes.
During the race in Saudi Arabia, it also emerged that the Red Bull employee concerned had now been suspended.
An anonymous sender had previously sent, among other things, alleged chats between Horner and Red Bull employees to the media and team bosses.
The search for the mole continues at Red Bull.
(ep)