'Red Bull board decides on Helmut Marko's departure this week'
Rumors
- Ludo van Denderen
There seems to be a power struggle going on in Red Bull's upper echelons despite taking two world titles in 2023. At the centre of the commotion is said to be Helmut Marko, the Austrian group's 'external advisor'. Red Bull's board of directors will reportedly decide on the 80-year-old Marko's stay with the team at a meeting this week.
O Globo, Latin America's largest television station, comes out with this explosive news this Saturday. The channel bases this on several sources. The author of the article is Luciano Burti, currently a Formula 1 commentator and, in the past, active in the premier class himself. Burti raced a few Grands Prix in 2000 and 2001 for Jaguar, which is the forerunner of Red Bull Racing. It is easy to imagine that the Brazilian has kept good contacts from those days.
Power struggle within Red Bull
According to O Globo, a power struggle has been going on internally at Red Bull since the death of Dietrich Mateschitz, co-founder of the company. The billionaire stipulated that after his death, his stake in the organisation would be handed over to his son Mark, but he has already realised that fellow Thai shareholders are trying to pull more and more of the strings. The Asians want to determine what direction the entire company should take, including that of both racing teams, Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri.
Meanwhile, there would also be tension between Thai-backed team boss Christian Horner and, on the other hand, Helmut Marko - who was always Dietrich Mateschitz's right-hand man. Since the tycoon's death, Horner is said to be trying to gain full control of the Red Bull Group's motorsport activities. In doing so, Horner would at least have the support of Oliver Mintzlaff, who has been advising Red Bull's board since Mateschitz's death.
'Horner wants to get rid of Marko'
That Horner already has an increasing finger in the pie, according to Burti and his co-author, is evidenced by the appointment of Peter Bayer as CEO of Scuderia AlphaTauri. It was Horner who allegedly made a strong case for the former FIA employee. Incidentally, in the background, the Red Bull team boss is also said to be trying to get rid of Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese driveris already confirmed for AlphaTauri in 2024 but is not seen by Horner as a long-term candidate for Red Bull Racing.
The Red Bull group's board of directors is said to be meeting this week. A major focus would be the future of Helmut Marko: will he be allowed to continue or leave Red Bull Racing? O Globo states that 'for the first time' the adviser 'must seriously fear' for his position.
'Perez replaced by Ricciardo in '24''
By the way, so should Sergio Perez, the Brazilians report. According to them, Red Bull's second driver is said to be about to be replaced by Daniel Ricciardo for '24. The channel cites that Perez's relationship with Max Verstappen has been at odds since Brazil 2022, and Horner also favours Ricciardo alongside the Dutchman. If Ricciardo moves on from AlphaTauri to Red Bull Racing, Liam Lawson would become the Australian's successor.