Red Bull CEO won’t take ‘responsibility’ for what Helmut Marko said about Christian Horner after exit

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Helmut Marko revealed some rather interesting details about Red Bull’s atmosphere behind the scenes after he left the team at the end of the 2025 season.

The chief advisor had been with Red Bull since they took over from Jaguar in 2005 and won eight drivers’ titles and six constructors’ championships with the team. However, Marko’s tenure ended in 2025.

The Austrian becomes the latest key figure to leave the team amid rumours of friction in the team’s hierarchy. Marko’s departure comes three months after Christian Horner was relieved of all duties, having been sacked as team principal in July.

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Marko got a much smaller payout than Horner, given that his contract ran until 2026, while the former team principal’s lasted until 2030. The pair were known to have feuded behind the scenes at Red Bull, but perhaps not to the extent that some may have thought.

After leaving Red Bull, Marko accused Horner of ‘dirty tricks’ during the final months of his tenure. He stated that the Brit tried to get him suspended back in 2024, which was prevented after Max Verstappen threatened to leave the team.

Oliver Mintzlaff disagrees with Helmut Marko’s jab at Christian Horner after Red Bull exit

Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff was asked to comment on Marko’s attack on Horner via De Telegraaf. He disagreed with the now former chief advisor and would not take responsibility for his words.

“Those words about Christian are Helmut’s responsibility,” he said. “I can’t say anything negative about Christian. Simply because he has meant a lot to Red Bull.

“But there always comes a time when things aren’t going well and then, as a company, you have to make a decision. Are you going to give someone more time, or is it time for a new leader? We felt it was time for a change.

Christian Horner has done more for Red Bull in Formula 1 than Helmut Marko – prove us wrong

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“I disagree with Helmut’s statements. Yes, it’s logical that things change in an organisation. Perhaps Dr Marko has also changed over the years. I think it’s quite normal that not everything is the same as it was five years ago.

“Christian and Helmut have worked together wonderfully for years, since the start in 2005. So we’re talking about more than twenty years.

“Give me a few examples of other large sports organisations where the leadership team has remained the same for so long.

“So you can view it very negatively that they are both gone now. But I would say that it is unique that they have been here together for so long and achieved so much. Sometimes you just need a change to shake things up.”

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Helmut Marko annoyed several Red Bull key figures during 2025

Juan Pablo Montoya thinks Marko is ‘bitter’ over Horner’s payout from Red Bull. The former received an £8.7m fee from the team after his exit, while the latter got £80m – it could have been even more, but Horner wanted as swift an exit as possible for 2026.

Marko’s exit from Red Bull came as a huge shock. His achievements will certainly be remembered, but it would seem that he did not leave the team on good terms.

Laurent Mekies was ‘annoyed’ by Marko as he told Isack Hadjar that he would be promoted to Red Bull back in August. The team did not make the news official until before the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.

Marko signed Alex Dunne behind Red Bull’s back, which resulted in the Irishman’s contract being immediately terminated. Verstappen ‘wasn’t convinced’ by Dunne and disapproved of Marko’s decision.