Helmut Marko’s Future Under Threat as Red Bull Prepares to Break Silence on Insensitive Sergio Perez Remarks

About a year ago, the Red Bull family bid farewell to their co-owner and founder, Dietrich Mateschitz. The Austrian business owner shared a close friendship with the head of Red Bull’s young driver development program, Helmut Marko. Marko has been with Red Bull Racing since its infancy in Formula 1. However, he might look at a messy exit from the outfit as internal politics on the team seek to get rid of him.

Helmut Marko is an aesthete art collector. His collections decorate the walls of his hotels in the city of Graz. But the Austrian art collector has a keen eye not just for classic art pieces but also for crafted racing drivers. Out of all the drivers in the 2023 lineup, 9 have graduated under him. However, no matter the decorated portfolio, with his recent comments on Sergio Perez, Marko has put his head on the block.

The growing divide between Christian Horner and Helmut Marko

Ever since the death of Mateschitz, the organizational changes at Red Bull have left Marko displeased. Believed to be once, the right-hand man of Mateschitz, he has fired at the racing outfit, citing the lack of friendly relations. And with increasing backing for Christian Horner from the Red Bull group’s shareholders, Marko now seems to lose his monopoly.

Caught between this tug of war among the team executives, Christian Horner and Helmut Marko is Sergio Perez. Relieving the uncertainty of his Racing Point days, Perez has been at the receiving end of the 80-year-old’s objectionable words. Although the latter apologized, Horner has found an appropriate arsenal. Arming themself with the regrettable xenophobic comments made by Marko, according to Planet F1, Red Bull Racing will meet later this week to decide Marko’s future.

Marko’s comments came following the Italian Grand Prix. “We know that he has problems in qualifying. He has fluctuations in his form, he’s South American and so he’s not as focused in his head as Max or Sebastian,” he said. The ‘king of the streets’, qualified ninth on the grid at Monza, but finished second behind Max Verstappen. Marko’s comments, therefore, were duly criticized.

READ MORE: Christian Horner Goes Against Helmut Marko’s Diktat to Give Crucial Lifeline to Sergio Perez

The tensions are not limited to just Red Bull. On the other side of the paddock, at the sister team, pressure is being mounted on the Japanese Driver, Yuki Tsunoda.

Threat looming for Yuki Tsunoda?

Red Bull shunted Nyck de Vries mid-season. He was another driver onboarded by Helmut Marko. The 80-year-old was confident in the Dutch driver. However, Christian Horner had little faith in the rookie. Subsequently, being outperformed by teammate Yuki Tsunoda consistently, although not by much, Daniel Ricciardo replaced de Vries.

However, Christian Horner is also keen on dropping the Japanese driver, Yuki Tsunoda. He has scored three points in the 17 races thus far. Marko, on the other hand, is opposing the move, citing the Honda dealership. The Austrian wants to avoid tensions between the team and the engine developer.

WATCH THIS STORY: Max Verstappen: ‘Is my title tarnished? Not at all. I really deserved it’

The year started relatively stable for the six-time-constructors, but the racing outfit is undergoing reckless turmoil. With no clarity over the drivers’ lineup, even Marko’s future at Red Bull now looks grim.