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Helmut Marko’s tenure as the special advisor to Red Bull Racing has come to a close, and the desire to contribute more to the racing team from one director within the wider Red Bull company may have had something to do with it.
Having worked for Red Bull from well before their Formula 1 venture in 2005, Helmut Marko was an integral part of the success that the Austrian constructor have since achieved.
His work with the junior development programme aided the careers of multiple drivers, some of whom turned out to be highly successful, such as Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.
However, there was also a darker side to the Austrian executive that saw him turn heads on multiple occasions.
The latest being Marko’s handling of a deal involving Alex Dunne, the Formula 2 driver who was recently let go by McLaren.
After going behind the back of Red Bull shareholders and Laurent Mekies to sign him, the team were forced to pay the Irish driver a big sum in order for them to cancel the contract that had already been signed.
The deal may have added to Marko’s demise, given that it has now emerged that one CEO within the wider Red Bull company has shown signs that they want more of a say in team decisions.
- READ MORE: Second Max Verstappen ally just told Red Bull he won’t attend any 2026 races amid Helmut Marko exit
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F1 paddock ‘rumours’ suggest that Red Bull director Oliver Mintzlaff wants to contribute more to the racing team
According to a report by Auto Motor und Sport, ‘rumours’ that have circulated inside the F1 paddock have suggested that Red Bull’s CEO of Corporate Projects and New Investments, Oliver Mintzlaff, is keen on inserting himself at the F1 team.
The 50-year-old previously served as the CEO of the Bundesliga football club, RB Leipzig, and oversaw their ascent from the lower leagues of German football to the highest level of the pyramid in three successive seasons.
The report states that Mintzlaff wants to ‘contribute more’ to the business side of the Formula 1 outfit, which may indicate that Marko’s deal with Dunne was one of the final nails in his coffin at the team.
Another leadership figure in the team may have made things a little too claustrophobic. If someone had to make way for the incoming German, Marko was perhaps seen as the most dispensable member of the hierarchy.
The move is sure to have an impact on Verstappen, who confirmed that he wanted to continue to work with the Austrian after claiming the runners-up spot in the 2025 drivers’ championship.
- READ MORE: Helmut Marko identifies clear moment where Red Bull may have cost Max Verstappen the 2025 F1 title
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Arvid Lindblad may be Helmut Marko’s final development driver to reach Formula 1
As previously alluded to, Marko has been a crucial figure in the careers of many F1 drivers, some of whom are still racing on the grid.
His final protege was Arvid Lindblad, who has been confirmed as the teammate of Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls next season.
Marko’s enthusiasm for Lindblad’s talents was a crucial factor in the decision Red Bull made to demote Yuki Tsunoda to a reserve role for 2026 and put their faith in another rookie driver.
The Austrian executive was more than willing to look past the difficult campaign that the 18-year-old endured during 2025 in Formula 2 to offer him a promotion after just one season there.
Lindblad is the 18th driver to emerge from the junior programme into a full-time race seat, following in the footsteps of Isack Hadjar, who made the step up for 2025 and will now be partnering Verstappen at Red Bull next year.
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