Marko now ‘next in line for Red Bull chop’ – All it took was a kiss on the cheek and the revolutionary leader was identified to his enemies and condemned to death.  There have been numerous poetic explorations over the centuries of Judas’ betrayal which include themes of guilt, damnation even self pity and a tragic misunderstanding of the future.

This week the Red Bull Racing folk in Milton Keynes experienced their own Machiavellian betrayal as their founder and leader of some 20 years, was stabbed in the back by distant men in grey suits. As the mainstream media pours out tomes of nonsense in an attempt to justify the treacherous act with performance, the brain alleged Milton Keynes brain drain, a failure to recruit…. are all recurring themes which have been presented as part of the reasoning.

The reality is simple. Red Bull Racing has been run since its inception by Christian Horner, with Didi Mateschitz practically giving him free reign to do whatever he pleased. Horner is the second most successful team boss in F1 history, only McLaren’s Ron Dennis won more Grand Prix.

 

 

 

Horner ruffled Austrian feathers

Red Bull Racing has won six titles in the last four seasons, something the chiefs in Maranello would literally die for and with the biggest regulation changes in F1 history just months away, the sacking of the Red Bull boss makes no sense from this perspective.

Christian Horner opposed the 50% sale to Porsche back in 2022, something the now CEO of the parent company, Oliver Mintzlaff has never forgiven him for. With the death of Mateschitz coming just months after the deal broke down, the night of the long knives then began.

The Red Bull boss was untouchable in 2023, with the team he built winning all but one race that season. Max Verstappen and the team smashed records which had stood for more than half a century as Red Bull delivered the most dominant season in the history of the sport.

Yet it appears Christian’s demise was delivered not with a single peck on the cheek, but a continuous back story rumbling on that Max Verstappen was leaving the team to join Mercedes next season. With their RB21 being impossible to driver for any one other than Verstappen, losing their prize asset of a driver could be a disaster for there racing organisation, but then again as Newey stated earlier this year, “anyone might come out on top” following the he regulation change coming next year.

Red Bull Thai owner recently transferred shares – giving the Austrians control to sack Horner

 

 

 

Marko stirs up rumours of Max exit

The Verstappen ‘camp’, as its often referred to, has been complicit in this rumour mongering despite Toto Wolff stating in Austria there was “very little probability” of Max joining Mercedes in 2026. The time for Verstappen to jump ship would be 2027 were Red Bull not top of there pile, given it would then be obvious which team may dominate the next era of F1.

Dr. Helmut Marko too has contributed to the Max to Mercedes narrative, although last time out in Silverstone he appeared to have changed his mind. When questioned when the debacle of the Austrian Grand Prix was a likely trigger for Verstappen to activate a and exit via performance clause in his contract, the Austrian was adamant.

“But again: Verstappen has a contract through 2028. Like all top drivers, there are performance-based exit clauses – but as things currently stand, there is absolutely no reason that this contract won’t be fulfilled,” said Marko to assembled media.

Dr. Marko has been head of the Red Bull young driver programme since before the inception of the team in 2005 via a number of sponsorship arrangements, notably with Sauber which started in 1995. He has been responsible for a significant number of drivers making it through to Formula One, most notably Sebastian Vettel who won four consecutive titles between 2010-2013.

Red Bull staff “gutted” as Milton Keynes protest walk out discussed

 

 

 

Failed Red Bull junior programme

Interestingly Max Verstappen was never part of the junior racing programme, having ploughed his own furrow in the select junior categories in which he raced. He signed on the dotted line with Dr. Marko back in 2015, joining Toro Rosso with immediate effect as their full time driver and became the youngest F1 driver only aged 17.

Since Vettel, Marko’s junior category programme has failed to deliver another world champion and whilst the likes of Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly and Carlos Sainz have gone on to become regulars on the F1 grid, the void to find the next superstar of the sport remains.

Marko was believed to be complicit in the leaking of confidential documents to over 200 senior paddock personal last year, even though Horner had been cleared by a Kings counsel of all allegations. As a consultant to the Red Bull parent company, Marko has had free reign within the two racing teams owned by the energy drinks empire and at times it has brought him into open conflict with the team principal and CEO.

As the Austrians seek to centralise power back in the parent company, its becoming ever more likely that the good doctor might be next for the chop. Veteran F1 driver of 46 Grand Prix, Christian Albers, writing for De Telegraaf believes this will be the next play from the men now controlling the Red Bull empire.

Russell contract talks stall over key demand

 

 

 

Calls for Marko to be sacked

“I think it’s time Marko also reaches his expiration date,” said Albers via De Telegraaf’s podcast. “Hearing some of his statements, they are out of touch with the times. I wonder if he should stay in that position. Maybe it’s time for a radical change and to usher in a new generation.”

Marko famously suggested the failure of Sergio Perez to maximise his opportunity in the Red Bull car was because he had the stereotypical “lazy” attitude that is part of South American culture. He was sanctioned by the FIA for his comments receiving a written reprimand in line with the FIA’s Code of Ethics. Article 1.2 of the code states “there shall be no discrimination between participants to the FIA activities on the basis of race, skin colour, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic or social origin, language, religion, philosophical or political opinion, family situation or disability.”

The good doctor was heavily criticised this season, for describing the tearful Isack Hadjar as “embaraasing” having crashed out of the season opener before completing one lap. Albers claims the culture Marko brings to the young driver programme often leaves scars on the very young men involved.

Marko shock admission over Hulkemberg

 

 

 

Marko “leaves his mark” on drivers

He “leaves his mark on all the drivers”, says Albers. “I find that to be a very significant factor. In his interviews, I don’t find him tactical. And now you might say: ‘He was never tactical’, but now I find it to be excessively harsh, and that does not benefit the team.”

In the soon to be new corporate world of the Red Bull racing organisation, the Austrians will seek ever more underlings who tow the corporate line. This is not Dr. Marko, who is a radical and it could be that Judas may soon be ‘hanging from a tree’ – all of it his own making. In recent weeks Sebastian Vettel has been proclaimed by Marko as his sucessor to run the Red Bull junior programme. Only time will tell, but it will be fascinating to see how the Red Bull golden child perceives the brave new world in Milton Keynes.

 

 

 

Herd mentality over Red Bull ‘calatous’ performance

As the dust settles on the revolution under way in Milton Keynes, a huge array of reasoning is being assembled as to why Christian Horner was sacked. The reason his departure is so shocking is that the timing is less than ideal as the biggest change in F1 regulations is coming just months away.

Horner was the hero beat at Red Bull Racing and cutting off the head of the tight knit organisation at this time may well lead to disastrous results. The staff who spoke to Sky F1 just hours after they heard their leader tell them he had been sacked by men in grey suits in Austria were to a person, “emotional” and “angry.”

TJ13 has learned around some 100 Red Bull employee CV’s have already landed in Cadillac’s inbox as the brain drain for real is surely about to start in proper. Much has been made of a number of senior staff leaving Red Bull in recent years, with the high profile Adrian Newey cited as the prime example as he joined Aston Martin this season…. READ MORE