Photo: Red Bull
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko, the architect of the brand’s junior programme that took numerous drivers to Formula 1, is to step down from his role.
The 82-year-old Austrian, who started 10 F1 grands prix as a driver and won the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1971, founded the RSM Marko team that competed successfully in Formula 3000 in the 1990s and ran as the official Red Bull Junior Team from 1999 to 2003.
The Red Bull Junior Team was also the name of the junior programme led by Marko that from 2001 onwards would support drivers across the junior single-seater ladder and karting.
Marko has continued to play an active role in identifying and signing young drivers to the programme over the last 20 years alongside helping to run the company’s two F1 teams.
A Red Bull statement confirming Marko’s departure listed the names of 20 drivers who have reached F1 after being part of the programme, including four-time world champions Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen as well as Arvid Lindblad, who will make his debut with Racing Bulls in 2026.
“I have been involved in motorsport for six decades now, and the past 20-plus years at Red Bull have been an extraordinary and extremely successful journey. It has been a wonderful time that I have been able to help shape and share with so many talented people. Everything we have built and achieved together fills me with pride,” Marko said.
“Narrowly missing out on the world championship this season has moved me deeply and made it clear to me that now is the right moment for me personally to end this very long, intense, and successful chapter.
“I wish the entire team continued success and am convinced that they will be fighting for both world championship titles again next year.”
Speculation had been rife since last weekend’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix about Marko’s impending exit. Some reports have included unconfirmed suggestions that Marko had recently made efforts to sign F2 standout Alex Dunne – who parted company with former backer McLaren in October – only to be overruled by Red Bull management.
Red Bull said Marko’s departure is his own decision. Paying tribute, Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO of corporate projects and investments at Red Bull, said: “His instinct for exceptional talent not only shaped our junior programme but also left a lasting impact on F1 as a whole.
“Names like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen stand for the many drivers who were discovered, supported, and guided to the very top under his leadership. His passion, his courage to make clear decisions, and his ability to spot potential will remain unforgettable.”
Guillaume Rocquelin, race engineer to Vettel during his run of four consecutive F1 titles, has also been heavily involved in the development of Red Bull’s young drivers since 2022 and would be an obvious candidate to lead the programme moving forwards.