Helmut Marko reportedly might depart Red Bull due to tension with Christian Horner 

Red Bull is going through massive changes at the organizational level.

Helmut Marko reportedly might depart Red Bull due to tension with Christian Horner 

David Coulthard, Christian Horner and Helmut Marko (Via IMAGO)

The co-founder of Red Bull, Dietrich Mateschitz, passed away in October last year. Formula One front-runners Red Bull Racing is the brainchild of Mateschitz. After his demise, the shares of the tycoon were immediately passed to his son and heir to his business empire, Mark Mateschitz. This change in leadership is rumored to have prompted a power struggle within the firm and its F1 team.

The team principal, Christian Horner, and advisor Helmut Marko, are reportedly at the center of the fight. According to Geoglobo, after the death of Mateschitz, the fight for power is growing between Horner and Marko. The former has reportedly taken control over Red Bull and their sister team AlphaTauri as the decision maker. He now wants Marko out of the team. The upcoming board meeting of the firm will reportedly determine the Austrian’s future with the reigning F1 champions.

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The Red Bull duo has recently made several contradicting statements on public platforms. The future of reserve driver Liam Lawson is the most recent one. Horner discusses the future by pointing out that there is no guarantee that the Kiwi driver will drive for Red Bull in 2024. On the contrary, Marko claimed that Lawson deserves a seat with the team and would probably drive for them in 2024.

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The outspoken nature of Marko and the controversies around his words has sometimes hurt the team. The most recent controversy involving the team’s chief advisor happened during the mid-season break. He made homophobic comments targeting his driver, Sergio Perez. Marko claimed that Perez, being a South American (which he isn’t), was why he is less focused compared to Max Verstappen. Marko later apologized for his comments.

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Does Christian Horner want to get rid of Yuki Tsunoda too?

According to the same report, Christian Horner is trying to get rid of Alphatauri’s driver, Yuki Tsunoda, as well. His position could be in jeopardy all because of Horner. Horner wants to end Tsunoda’s involvement in the team, and he is ready to pay up to $10 million for it.

Helmut Marko and Yuki Tsunoda
Helmut Marko and Yuki Tsunoda (Speedweek.com)

Currently, Tsunoda has been confirmed for the season 2024 in Alphatauri alongside Daniel Ricciardo. Things could have been different if Marko hadn’t sided with Tsunoda. Hence, this headline was unexpected, but if there is any rationality behind it, it could be because of a recent feud between Marko and Horner.

Also, Mexican racer Sergio Perez is struggling this year. He underperformed after the summer break, which triggers the organization to get involved in ‘talks’ of firing the racer before his end of the contract in 2024. Marko and Horner have spoken on this before, adding more issues to the current state of Red Bull.

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