Controversial comments against Antonelli in Qatar reportedly firmed the decision for Helmut Marko to leave Red Bull as team boss Laurent Mekies hints potential leadership changes ahead of 2026 F1.
The Formula 1 world was left reeling after the 2025 season finale as whispers of seismic changes at Milton Keynes intensified, with the long-time motorsport advisor hinting the end of his 20 year-tenure with the team.
Marko who has been a cornerstone of the team’s success since its entry into F1 in 2005, has sparked widespread speculation fueled by reports suggesting his departure is imminent by year’s end, signaling fresh Red Bull leadership changes for 2026 F1 under CEO Oliver Mintzlaff’s vision.
Marko’s tenure at Red Bull has been nothing short of legendary, shaping the team from its Jaguar acquisition roots into a dominant force with multiple constructors’ and drivers’ championships, largely through his ruthless junior driver program that unearthed talents like Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, and most crucially, Max Verstappen.
The Austrian advisor’s post-Abu Dhabi comments carried an uncharacteristic ambiguity, stating he would “sleep on it” and make a personal decision after discussions, amid reports from The Telegraph and BILD that his exit is already sealed for the end of 2025.
“It’s not in doubt, but I will have a discussion and then I see what I do,” the 82-year old said at the Yas Marina Circuit. “It’s a complex [set] of different things. I have to sleep over it and then will we see.”
This uncertainty stems from strained relations with Red Bull’s new leadership structure, including Oliver Mintzlaff and team principal Laurent Mekies over issues like unilateral junior program signings and broader organizational resets aimed at streamlining operations for the upcoming power unit era.
Sources indicate succession plans have been in motion for months, with names like Vettel and Gerhard Berger floated as potential replacements, though Marko’s influence remains unmatched in talent scouting and hard-nosed decision-making that defined Red Bull’s golden eras.
Additionally, controversial comments regarding Kimi Antonelli after the Qatar Grand Prix could have forced Helmut Marko to leave Red Bull.
These allegations which escalated a tense situation leading to online abuse against the 18-year-old Italian, have been suggested as solidifying the decision to move Marko aside.
Laurent Mekies praised the Austrian’s contribution to the team as he hinted potential Red Bull leadership changes for 2026 F1 season.
“Helmut has been incredible in how supportive he has been in helping us turning around things this year,” Mekies said after Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. “Obviously, him and the top management had quite a few difficult decisions to make in the year, and of course we always have.
“But Formula 1 is not a static environment, you always adjust your organisations, and it applies to technical, it applies to sporting. It’s completely normal that we review how we can improve the way we operate all the time.
“So I’m not saying that specifically for Helmut, but I’m saying that in general we are in an environment where we always challenge each other and look for the next steps, no matter how small it is in trying to work together.
“But I can only thank Helmut for the role he has played in making what looked like a difficult situation at the mid-season making work with the support.”
As Red Bull eyes 2026 with new engine partnerships and aerodynamic resets, Marko’s potential exit looms as a blow to continuity, especially for Max Verstappen whose victory at Yas Marina could not overcome Norris’s third-place finish to snatch the drivers’ crown.
Verstappen’s loyalty to Marko is profound; the Dutch driver who is contracted until 2028 had vowed to leave if Marko departed after the team was rocked by power struggles last year.
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