A major chapter in Formula 1 history is coming to a close. At 82 years old, Helmut Marko, Red Bull's long-time advisor and architect of the driver development program that shaped Max Verstappen, is expected to leave the team at the end of this season. According to several Dutch media outlets, including The TelegraphA meeting held Monday evening with the group's management reportedly confirmed his departure, although he still had a contract running until 2026. As early as Sunday, after Lando Norris's victory in Abu Dhabi, Marko had been very evasive about his future.
A retirement that shakes up the organizational chart, but not Verstappen
Helmut Marko's departure comes at a time of profound restructuring for Red Bull, five months after Christian Horner's exit. A central figure in the team's talent development program, Marko leaves behind a long list of drivers he identified and nurtured, from three-time world champion Max Verstappen to the rising star Isack Hadjar. His retirement symbolizes the end of an era for a team he shaped behind the scenes as surely as Adrian Newey shaped it on the track.
Verstappen will stay until 2028
Despite their close relationship, the departure of his mentor should in no way jeopardize Max Verstappen's future at Red Bull. The Dutchman, who finished two points behind Lando Norris this season, remains under contract with the team until 2028, and there is no indication of any intention to leave. For Red Bull, it's now a new chapter to write, without the man who, for twenty years, had been whispering in the ears of champions.
