'Relationship between Marko and Mateschitz's successor not very good'

11 December 2022 at 18:51

Last update 11 December 2022 at 22:07

GPblog.com

Helmut Marko is hungry for more success after world titles in 2021 and 2022 for Red Bull Racing. However, the 79-year-old Austrian did hint last month that he will only remain fully committed if he likes the new organisational structure within Red Bull. According to the Japanese AS-Web it is even more highly questionable whether Marko will be given the same amount of freedom as was the case in recent years under the leadership of Dietrich Mateschitz. Marko might not be on good terms with Mateschitz's successor.

Speaking after the final Grand Prix of the season in Abu Dhabi, Marko said he can quit Red Bull Racing as an advisor whenever he wants. "I fulfilled my role because of my connection with Dietrich Mateschitz, a visionary who understood everything in the big picture. If I no longer like the atmosphere, it is no longer a problem for me. I can quit from one day to the next."

At the moment, he is still having a great time at the Austrian team, but even Marko does not know what might change within the team next year. Mateschitz has passed away and so meanwhile the management has fallen to Oliver Mintzlaff. Red Bull's management structure has been shaken up, with a three-member board of directors. The CEO of the drinks business is Franz Waczlawiak, Alexander Kirchmayer has been appointed CFO and the CEO for corporate projects and investments (which also includes Red Bull Racing) is thus Mintzlaff.

Relationship Marko and Mintzlaff not top

Sources close to Marko say, according to AS-Web, that the relationship between Marko and Mintzlaff is not very good. The publication writes: "On paper, nothing will change in Marko's role, but Mintzlaff is reportedly not planning to give Marko and team boss Christian Horner as much autonomy as Mateschitz." Marko and Horner enjoyed Mateschitz's complete trust and could therefore do whatever they wanted without having to ask permission all the time. That seems to be a thing of the past.

According to Austrian media, Mintzlaff was only too happy to see a partnership between Red Bull and Porsche in Formula 1 from 2026. However, the deal, which seemed almost complete, ultimately did not materialise. Marko and Horner would have been the ones who did not like a partnership. Mateschitz was not involved in the decision-making process due to his health condition. That the deal collapsed would not sit well with Mintzlaff.