Dr Helmut Marko has steadfastly refrained from commenting on the burgeoning speculation about the internal dynamics at Red Bull, delivering a terse “no comment” when probed about the matter.
Recent events suggest that the controversy involving Christian Horner has subsided slightly following the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, though murmurs persist in F1 circles.
Auto Bild has reported on a seeming victory for Horner and Red Bull’s Thai partners in their internal conflict, a situation that might lead to dramatic changes within the team.
Speculation is rife that the team’s Austrian faction, with Marko as a key figure, might consider exiting the F1 scene, a move that could include not renewing the contract for the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring beyond 2030.
Rumors also suggest that Marko, who is 80, might step down from his role after the Suzuka race, a decision that could trigger a chain of events including Max Verstappen’s switch to Mercedes and Adrian Newey accepting a lucrative offer from Aston Martin.
“No comment!” was Marko’s response to inquiries from the Osterreich newspaper about these developments.
The belief is that, should Verstappen exit the team, Horner’s backup plan involves Fernando Alonso, who has acknowledged the swirl of “rumours” regarding team dynamics.
“Obviously if Max leaves Red Bull, this may influence my decision,” Alonso stated, adding, “But I think the probability of this is zero.”
Sebastian Vettel, a former Red Bull driver who clinched all four of his titles with the team, shared his perspective on the ongoing turbulence within Red Bull during an interview with Sky Deutschland.
“I think it’s always difficult when you read one thing and then the other – and then the opposite again,” Vettel remarked. He continued, “It seems like everything is going in circles now. The shame is that Max is actually doing a great job, and the team – including a lot of people I remember from my time there – are doing a great job in the background. That’s kind of forgotten when the main topic is about something else.”
GMM
