It was known, in the Yas Marina paddock, that the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix could be Helmut Marko’s final Formula 1 race as Red Bull’s motorsport advisor.
A final decision was made on Monday in Abu Dhabi, as Marko met with Red Bull's senior management, including Oliver Mintzlaff. The official announcement followed on Tuesday, bringing an end to an era that lasted more than 20 years.
According to Red Bull’s official explanation, Marko is retiring – something entirely normal at the age of 82 – and Mintzlaff expressed his regret in the press release. In reality, however, several factors contributed to this decision.
According to Red Bull’s official explanation, Marko is retiring – something entirely normal at the age of 82 – and Mintzlaff expressed his regret in the press release. In reality, however, several factors contributed to this decision.
To start with, Red Bull’s Austrian parent company is taking more control over its F1 operations, a shift that began during the internal power struggles surrounding Christian Horner. The goal is to bring stability to both Red Bull teams and streamline the organisation. This trend is visible elsewhere too: Red Bull has appointed a new head of PR, transferred from the Austrian headquarters, replacing Paul Smith, who had to leave simultaneously with Horner.
