Helmut Marko reveals how Max Verstappen reacted after finding out he was leaving Red Bull

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It has officially been confirmed that Helmut Marko will part ways with Red Bull, bringing a 20-year tenure to an end.

The 82-year-old has been a mainstay of the Formula 1 paddock for some time, responsible for raising some of the team’s greatest talents.

Having won eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ crowns, Marko can hold his head high, knowing that he achieved a lot.

But, just about everything has changed at Red Bull in recent times, with many big-name departures over the last 18 months or so. Heading into the 2026 F1 regulations, they have a fresh start.

Red Bull won’t hire Sebastian Vettel to replace Marko in an advisory role, responsible for helping to source more talent down the line for the team.

Marko has rushed Arvid Lindblad into a seat, and Red Bull might be about to pay the price for it, especially if he struggles over the next year or so.

READ MORE: Key Red Bull figure now set to step up as Helmut Marko’s Formula 1 exit gets confirmed

Max Verstappen was a ‘little sad’ to hear about Helmut Marko’s Red Bull departure

Marko cost Red Bull ‘hundreds of thousands’ after deciding to sign Alex Dunne to their junior programme, without asking for their permission first.

The team pioneered the idea of a young driver programme, really putting it into action, and leading the way compared to their competitors.

Nico Rosberg thinks Max Verstappen will be ‘impatient’ in 2026, and could leave his team if he doesn’t get the chance to compete for a title.

The trifecta is no more – when will Red Bull next win a title?

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He holds Marko in high regard, and the two have known each other for some time now. Seeing him leave won’t exactly please the Dutchman.

Speaking to Kleine Zeitung, Marko revealed how Verstappen took the news after hearing that the Austrian would be leaving Red Bull at the end of 2025.

“I would say that he was already a little sad about it,” he said. “We once again reviewed the incredible time together.”

READ MORE: Martin Brundle has seen a vital change in Max Verstappen ever since Red Bull sacked Christian Horner

Why Red Bull might end up missing Helmut Marko in the future

While the identification of talent was something that Marko helped to pioneer in Formula 1, other teams have caught up.

Naturally, at the age of 82, he was always going to have to walk away at some point. The demands of travelling to so many races can be quite intense.

But his demeanour and experience will be missed by them. He was always quite good at making sure his drivers knew they had to perform.

Marko thinks Red Bull cost Verstappen the title in Hungary this year, and rued a bad setup which left him fighting in the midfield. Looking back, it’s a shame for him that he couldn’t sign off while on top of the world.