Last Updated on December 13 2023, 12:00 pm

Whilst for the first time in Formula One history, the driver line up from the last race of one season will remain exactly the same for the start of the next, other key F1 personnel are on the move.

Alpine have confirmed this week the departure of their director of racing expansion projects, Davide Brivio who joined the team as racing director in 2021. 

 

 

 

Alpine senior figure departs

The French based F1 squad have suffered significant upheaval this season having ‘sacked’ their team principal Otmar Szafnauer and sporting director Alan Permane who had been with the Enstone team for nigh on two decades.

Then there has been what some described as the Red Bull civil war. Rumours of a power struggle emerged during the late summer that Christian Horner was seeking to oust Dr. Helmut Marko.

Marko was a close friend of the founder of the Red Bull empire Dietrich Mateshictz and following his death the position of the head of the Red Bull junior driver academy was a topic of much speculation.

Following the sacking of Nyck de Vries it emerged Marko and Horner had a disagreement over the recruitment of the Formula E world champion driver as the replacement for Pierre Gasly who left for Alpine.

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Marko reveals Red Bull disagreements

When asked by the Inside Line podcast if he and the Red Bull team principal often disagreed over new driver signings, Marko replied:

“Not often, but sometimes we do. The last one… I would say de Vries. Basically it’s AlphaTauri, but we’re a big family and we get opinions. He [Horner] was not a fan of De Vries. I would say at the moment it looks like he was right.”

Horner had allegedly favoured handing the AlphaTauri seat for 2023  straight to the recently redundant Daniel Ricciardo, but the Aussie was made reserve driver as De Vries got the nod.

Just ten races into the season, De Vries was sacked and Ricciardo finally became Yuki Tsunoda’s team mate as Horner had planned all along.

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Horner says Marko ‘wasn’t right’

Following comments about Sergio Perez and his laid back “South American” trait, Marko was accused in the paddock of issuing racist tropes. The FIA cautioned the 80 year old Austrian but the media attention turned on Horner who to then had refused to criticise Dr. Marko.

When asked why Red Bull had not put out a statement over the alleged racist comments, Horner appeared to throw Marko under the bus.

“Those comments weren’t right and Helmut quickly recognised that and apologised,” said Horner.

He then went on to make it clear he was not responsible for the behaviour of Dr. Marko adding: 

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Verstappen says rumours are BS

“Obviously from Helmut’s perspective he’s apologised,” said Horner. “He’s not an employee of Red Bull Racing so in terms of why didn’t we put out a statement, he’s part of the Red Bull wider group and the group obviously issued that apology through the Servus TV channel.”

“Helmut is technically an employee of the group so its not a question for me.”

As the teams arrived in Austin the tale of the Red Bull internal wrangling grew further, such that Max Verstappen was forced to comment on the state of play.

“I saw that from the outside, people are trying to basically talk some BS, because I think the mood in the team is very good,” said the triple world champion. “Everyone knows exactly what their role is.” 

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Marko denies being forced to retire

Marko too was forced to face the media over rumours he was being forced to retire early and he curtly responded.

“I have a contract until the end of 2024 and in the end it’s the shareholders’ decision, not Christian Horner’s, and in the end it’s me who decides,” he told Motorsport-Total.com.

German publication Auto Bild claims Christian Horner is on good terms with the Thai owners who hold a majority stake in the entire Red Bull owned group and alleged the team boss had leaked to the media they do not trust Dr. Marko.

They go on to state that Max Verstappen has made his views clear on the matter and via Ralph Schumacher it is claimed, “Auto Bild has learned from a reliable source that Verstappen has made it loud and clear in a personal conversation with both the Thai boss and with Mintzlaff that in case Marko has to leave he would also leave.”

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Schumacher say Red Bull need Marko

Schumacher added to formel1.de, “Red Bull certainly still needs Helmut Marko. I can also imagine that Verstappen will not allow Marko to leave. He has already been very clear about that. As long as he drives there, not much will change.”

The former F1 driver goes on to express his admiration for Marko. “Helmut has been walking around in this world for a long time. At some point, he will also start asking himself some questions. I’m actually surprised that he’s still so active. That deserves nothing but respect, especially because he has already meant so much to Red Bull.”

Helmut Marko is known for speaking his mind and at times being tough on the young drivers he has developed. Yet his methods have merit in that more than a quarter of the current grid are there because of Marko’s eye for talent.

“Of course, Helmut can be quite harsh sometimes, but when you invest money in someone, you can expect something out of it,” Schumacher adds. 

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‘No nonsense’ approach works

So it might also be a good thing, to deal with the young guys the way it used to be. After all, it is performance alone that counts in Formula 1. I can certainly see a future for Marko in that.”

Triple world champion Max Verstappen has confirmed Marko is no pushover and operates from a no nonsense point of view.

“That’s how I’ve approached my entire career,” Verstappen told motorsport-magazin.com. “If it’s bad, it’s bad, and if it’s good, it’s good. There’s nothing in between.”

Max did reveal he doesn’t take Marko’s early morning calls anymore  preferring to return them later in the day.

So for now whatever the wrangling, Max support for Dr. Marko appears to mean his position is secure for as long as he wants to continue as the advisor to Red Bull.

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