Earthquake in Formula 1: Helmut Marko officially leaves the Red Bull team

Formula 1 bids farewell to one of the most influential figures of recent decades. Helmut Marko, a key figure in building the Red Bull empire in the category, will leave his role as advisor and retire from motorsport at the end of the 2025 season, as confirmed by the team itself.

His future was the subject of rumors during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, despite having a contract until 2026. Finally, on Monday, a meeting was held at Yas Marina between the 82-year-old Austrian and the Red Bull executive board, including Oliver Mintzlaff, sporting CEO.

"I have been involved in motorsport for six decades, and the more than twenty years spent at Red Bull have been an extraordinary and extremely successful journey," Marko said in a statement. "Losing the world championship by such a small margin this season has moved me deeply and has made it clear to me that now is the right time to personally bring this long, intense, and successful chapter to an end."

He also thanked everyone who accompanied him in the project and stated that he is convinced the team will fight for both titles again in 2026.

Mintzlaff, meanwhile, regretted the decision: " Helmut approached me with the desire to end his role as motorsport advisor at the end of the year. I deeply regret his decision, as he has been an influential figure for more than two decades, and his departure marks the end of an extraordinary era."

He also highlighted his "courage to make difficult decisions," his keen eye for spotting talent, and his decisive contribution to the brand's sporting expansion. "Although his departure will leave a significant void, our respect for his decision and our gratitude for everything he has done for Red Bull Racing outweigh that," he said.

The architect of champions

Marko was much more than an advisor, he was the creator of Red Bull's successful young driver program. After his own career as a driver, which included a victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and an abrupt end due to an eye injury in 1972, he founded the RSM Marko team, active in DTM, Formula 3, and F3000.

That project became the Red Bull Junior Team in 1999, a talent pool of 18 drivers who reached Formula 1 under his supervision, including Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, who later became world champions. His influence also extended to the brand's two teams: Red Bull Racing and the current Racing Bulls (formerly Toro Rosso).

His departure not only confirms a personal closure, it also leaves F1 facing the end of a cycle that helped shape much of its recent history. Starting in 2026, the paddock will be a place without Helmut Marko, but with a legacy that will be difficult to erase.