Helmut Marko may no longer be with Red Bull, but their 2026 driver line-up still carries his influence. Isack Hadjar has stepped up to the main team, while Arvid Lindblad has taken on a seat at Racing Bulls.
Both drivers are seen as products of Marko’s time with the organisation. Red Bull brought Hadjar on board in 2021, and Lindblad was just 13 when he entered the programme.
The Frenchman’s rookie performances were impressive enough to earn a place alongside Max Verstappen, and there is similar long-term hope for Lindblad. The expectation is that he will put himself in contention for a Red Bull seat down the line.
Marko has said that both Hadjar and the Briton have what it takes to win races in F1. His track record includes bringing names like Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel, Carlos Sainz, and Daniel Ricciardo into the sport, so he deserves some credit.
Helmut Marko informed Isack Hadjar about Red Bull seat months before official announcement
According to a report from Planet F1, which detailed the reasons behind Marko’s exit, he began making independent decisions following Christian Horner’s dismissal in July.
One of those moves was the signing of Formula 2 driver Alex Dunne. Marko went ahead without approval from the team’s leadership, and it ended up costing them hundreds of thousands to pull out.
Beyond that, Hadjar was informed by Marko at the Dutch GP – where the Frenchman earned his first F1 podium – that he would be joining Red Bull. Officially, though, the team said no decision would be made until the end of the season.
Both Laurent Mekies and Red Bull sports boss Oliver Mintzlaff were reportedly ‘annoyed’ with how Marko handled things. Part of Horner’s removal had been aimed at moving away from such individual-driven decisions.
Mekies and Mintzlaff did eventually choose Hadjar over Yuki Tsunoda as well, but for them, it was more about process than preference.
Helmut Marko did something that was ‘unheard of’ in modern F1 before Red Bull exit
Marko’s departure did not just come down to results. The report also highlights how often he gave away sensitive details, particularly in interviews where he would openly discuss things like Verstappen’s car set-up before the weekend had even started.
It was not just the information leaks, though. Marko had his own way of working and rarely followed standard protocols. He was approachable in the paddock, often agreeing to interviews without a press officer present, which is almost unheard of these days.
Even drivers are always accompanied by staff when speaking to the media. The lack of oversight became a growing concern as Red Bull tried to shift towards a more team-focused structure after Horner’s exit.
With Marko now out of the picture, there is little expectation he will seek another role within F1. Meanwhile, Mekies looks set to gain even more influence following a strong start to his time with the team.
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