(Motorsport-Total.com) – After last year’s Formula 1 season, it was over: Just a few days after the finale in Abu Dhabi, Red Bull announced that Helmut Marko would end his role as motorsport advisor at the end of 2025. The 82-year-old Austrian was with the team for over 20 years and leaves a gap – especially for Max Verstappen.
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The start of the new season marked the first race without Marko. But what will change in the Red Bull garage this year? “Maybe there will be a few fewer Austrian jokes from Helmut, but I’m still in contact with him anyway,” Verstappen reveals with a smile.
The Dutchman, who was discovered and nurtured by Marko, continues to maintain a close relationship with the Austrian. What do the two talk about now that Marko is no longer active at Red Bull? “Maybe not so much about details on the car, but rather about life,” says the four-time world champion.
Verstappen admits: “It will feel a bit different”
Verstappen even admits that the loss of the Austrian is definitely noticeable for him on race weekends. “I shared so many moments with him, so of course it will feel a bit different in the pits, but you also have to look forward,” the 28-year-old emphasizes in Australia.
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The era of Helmut Marko at Red Bull
However, the first race without his long-time mentor did not go as planned for Max Verstappen: After a crash in qualifying, the Red Bull driver had to start from the back of the field, but after a solid recovery drive, he at least finished in sixth place, managing some damage control.
However, it seems out of the question that Marko’s exit from Red Bull could have deeper effects on the Dutchman. “You have to think about performance,” Verstappen dismisses the idea of worrying too much about it. “But at the same time, as I said, we have a great relationship and stay in contact anyway.”
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