Red Bull are entering a new era in more than one way when the 2026 Formula 1 season begins next March.
For the first time ever, they’ll be bringing their own engines to the racetrack, having ended a six-year partnership with Honda.
For the first time in their existence, Christian Horner, Adrian Newey, and Helmut Marko all won’t be on the books, either. All three had been with them since at least 2006.
Fortunately, Max Verstappen sent a clear message that he’s staying at Red Bull and the team won’t have to worry about keeping him tied down, as he holds a contract until 2028.
But, if they produce a slow car this winter, Verstappen could leave Red Bull in 2027 in search of an opportunity that can help him claim a fifth title.
Now that close friend and advisor Marko has left the team, he has yet another reason to seek alternative opportunities if things go awry.
Guenther Steiner expects ‘well-established’ Red Bull to be fine without Helmut Marko
It recently transpired that Marko upset Red Bull by making the call to hire Alex Dunne as a driver for their junior programme, after he was dropped by McLaren.
The oversight cost the team a lot to fix, and might have been part of the reason for Marko’s departure. They can’t have been impressed that he didn’t seek approval.
But, he has made some vital contributions to the team over the years, and the effect of them can still be felt now. Take their two recent promotions, for example.
Marko played a big role in pushing for Arvid Lindblad to get a Racing Bulls seat after Isack Hadjar’s promotion to Red Bull. It’ll be fascinating to see how both fare in 2026.
But, ex-Haas boss Guenther Steiner thinks that the team and drivers will be just fine without Marko’s influence. His departure isn’t so significant, in his eyes.
“I don’t think they will be worse off,” he told the Red Flags Podcast. “I don’t know if they are better off, but I don’t think they will be worse off, because the team is well-established, it seems like, under the leadership of Laurent [Mekies].
“It seems like they know what they want and what they do. The races are the same, they did a good job and I think if there is something happening, Helmut Marko can always come back.”
What did Helmut Marko do before working with Red Bull?
After his racing career was cut short by a devastating accident in 1972, Marko set up his own team, RSM Marko, in 1989.
It was there that he learned exactly how to spot a rising talent, which would be a very handy skill later in his career.
In 1999, his affiliation with Red Bull began, as his RSM Marko team started to operate under the Red Bull junior team banner.
In 2005, when they joined Formula 1, he became an advisor towards the team, and in 2006, Toro Rosso as well. Fast forward another 20 years, and he achieved 14 total titles in partnership with them.
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