© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Red Bull is discussing a possible suspension for Dr Helmut Marko, and Max Verstappen says if Marko leaves the team, he will follow.
The controversy regarding Christian Horner’s alleged inappropriate behaviour toward a female Red Bull employee, is turning into an all-out war within the team.
Ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, rumours emerged that Red Bull’s advisor Dr Helmut Marko is under investigation by the team for allegedly leaking details of the Horner investigation.
It is being said the team is considering suspending the Austrian, in what appears to be a power struggle between a camp led by Marko and Max Verstappen’s father Jos, and a camp led by Horner.
The tensions only escalated in the media after Jos was seen talking to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff during the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, and later called for Horner to step down from his role within Red Bull.
Now, after Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Qualifying, Max was asked about Marko’s possible suspension, and he warned that if Marko was ousted from Red Bull, he will follow.
“I have a lot of respect for Helmut and what we have achieved together,” Verstappen said.
“My loyalty to him is very big, and also I have always expressed this to everyone within the team, everyone high up, that he is an important part in my decision making for all the time in the future as well within the team.
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“So, it is very important he stays within the team, including of course everyone else because it is a whole team effort.
“It is very important we keep the key people together because I feel if such an important pillar falls away, that’s also what I’ve said to the team, that is not good for my situation as well. So yeah, for sure, for me, Helmut has to stay.
“He has built this team together with Dietrich [Mateschitz, Red Bull’s founder] from day one. And he’s always been very loyal to the team, to everyone within the team, to make sure that everyone would keep their positions already from back in the day.
“I think it’s also very important, of course, that you give the man a lot of respect for what he has done. And that comes back also to loyalty, you know, and integrity.
“So, yeah, for sure, it’s important that he stays part of the team, also for me,” the Dutch driver concluded.
Interestingly, although Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028, it has now emerged that he has an exit clause, in the case of Helmut Marko leaving the team.
With rumours swirling around that the Dutchman is one of the candidates to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025, the Marko situation could play an important role in making this possibility a reality.
