Helmut Marko set to leave Red Bull early ahead of 2026 F1 se...

Helmut Marko is set for retirement as Red Bull’s motorsport advisor in Formula 1, despite an initial contract for 2026.

Immediately after the title decider at the Yas Marina Circuit, uncertainty over Helmut Marko’s future at Red Bull began to trickle through the paddock. When asked, the Austrian stated that discussions would take place later in the week. Whereas the 82-year-old had previously pointed to his ongoing contract, he did not do so this time.

“It’s a complex [set] of different things,” he said. When asked what his own preference would be, Marko replied: “I have to sleep over it, and then we’ll see.”

The discussions Marko referred to on Sunday night took place on Monday in Abu Dhabi with Red Bull’s top management – including sporting CEO Oliver Mintzlaff. The outcome is that Marko is set for retirement at the end of this calendar year as Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, noting that his influence in practice went beyond what that job title suggested.

Marko’s contract had initially been extended for two more years and covered the 2026 season as well, but that term will not be completed.

Red Bull keen for a fresh start with both F1 teams?

Team principal Laurent Mekies already hinted on Sunday night that changes were looming. Asked about Marko’s comments, the French team boss did little to quell the rumours.

“Helmut has been incredible in how supportive he has been in helping us to turn around things this year. Obviously him and the top management had quite a few difficult decisions to make in the year, and of course we always have. But Formula 1 is not a static environment, you always adjust your organisations, and it applies to technical, it applies to sporting.”

Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Luca Martini / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images

Mekies subtly indicated that Red Bull was looking at ways to make its leadership structure future-proof.

“It's completely normal that we review how we can improve the way we operate all the time. So I'm not saying that specifically for Helmut, but I'm saying that in general we are in an environment where we always challenge each other and look for the next steps, no matter how small it is in trying to work together. But I can only thank Helmut for the role he has played in making what looked like a difficult situation at the mid-season making work with the support,” said Mekies, who took over from Christian Horner this past summer.

Suggestions in the paddock are that the Austrian parent company might take a firmer grip. One option could be to involve Mintzlaff and his team more closely in the running of Red Bull's F1 operations. A new head of PR has also been put forward from the Austrian headquarters, after Paul Smith – who previously held that position – had to leave the team at the same time as Horner.

The end of an era

With Marko’s upcoming retirement, an era spanning 21 years will come to an end. The former Le Mans 24 Hours winner from Graz was put forward as Dietrich Mateschitz’s right-hand man to help build Red Bull Racing after the team was acquired from Jaguar ahead of the 2005 season. Marko took charge of the junior programme that produced, among others, Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.

Whereas Mercedes initially wanted to place Verstappen in GP2 for a year, Marko immediately offered the Dutchman an F1 seat at sister team Toro Rosso for 2015. The loyalty between the two has long been mutual since then. When Marko’s position came under pressure around the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, amid the Horner power struggles, Verstappen firmly came to his defence. As of 31 December 2025, however, that cooperation seems to formally come to an end.

Photos from Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing, in photos