Helmut Marko will continue working at Red Bull beyond 2024, extending his time as a key decision-maker at Milton Keynes for the foreseeable future.
In a sport with no shortage of controversial figures, Helmut Marko is certainly among them.
The Austrian has spent several years overseeing the Red Bull academy, deciding the fates of young drivers aspiring to compete in F1.
Historically, the team has spent tens of millions on the careers of young drivers. Last year was no different, with six Formula 2 drivers having an affiliation with the Champion team.
This is where the debate surrounding Helmut Marko is often centred. On one hand, he is responsible for recruiting the likes of Max Verstappen into the Red Bull family.
On the other, there have been several miscalculations in recent seasons. Nyck de Vries is the most recent example, with the Dutchman barely lasting half a season before being replaced.
It must be emphasised that Helmut Marko was the one who pushed to sign De Vries.
Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, did not share the 80-year-old’s enthusiasm about signing the Formula E Champion.
Moreover, the initial decision to overlook Liam Lawson can be questioned. Without a surprise injury to Ricciardo in Zandvoort, the Kiwi might never have been given the opportunity to prove himself as F1 worthy.
In any case, his influence at Red Bull cannot be denied. During a recent interview, he confirmed the extension of his contract:
“Everything is going ahead as planned… I do my job for Red Bull Racing, and I enjoy it,” he told oe24.
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – MARCH 26: Red Bull Racing Team Consultant Dr Helmut Marko looks on in the garage during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 26, 2022 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202203260445 // Usage for editorial use only //
To be clear, Red Bull’s approach will be adjusted in 2024. Not only is there a restructuring at AlphaTauri, but also at the main team itself.
Specifically, the young driver programme will become less wasteful.
Rather than having dozens of drivers signed at one time, Christian Horner’s team will be more selective. In short, quality and efficiency will take priority over quantity.
As a result, Marko will not enjoy the same freedom as in previous years. He cannot make the knee-jerk decisions that have occasionally given Red Bull and AlphaTauri very complicated line-up situations.
Despite this, Helmut Marko will remain a key figure at Red Bull for the foreseeable future.
Author: Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
