Reports from Brazilian publication Globo have cast a spotlight on the internal dynamics of the Red Bull Racing team, suggesting that both Sergio Perez’s position and Helmut Marko’s role within the team are in jeopardy.
The reported factors contributing to this potential upheaval include Christian Horner’s desire for more control over AlphaTauri, his apparent discomfort with Marko’s constant presence in the media, and the uncertainty surrounding Yuki Tsunoda’s future in the team.
In response to these reports, Horner dismissed the speculation, emphasizing the pivotal role Marko has played in his own career and the team’s success. He referred to Marko’s contributions as “very valuable” within the team.
Marko, on the other hand, downplayed the rumors and attributed them to a lack of real news, stating, “I think we are winning too much! There is no real news, and now something has to be played up.” He asserted that while there might be minor differences of opinion, the overall team structure and climate remain intact.
Regarding his relationship with Horner, Marko emphasized their long history together, spanning 27 years, and highlighted their distinct roles in the team. He explained, “We’ve known each other for 27 years. We built this up together. The division of labour looks like this: Christian does the operational stuff, I’m more into the strategy. That’s good. It’s worked so far and we’ll see that it works in the future too.”
Max Verstappen, the reigning World Champion, reiterated the significance of trust between himself, Marko, and Horner. He affirmed that despite changes within the team, their roles and relationships remain unaltered.
Verstappen stated, “The trust that we have – of course, I have in Helmut and Helmut in me – is very important. But that is the same as with Christian. After Dietrich died last year, a few new captains from the Austrian side were added. But that’s good. We have spoken. Everything actually stays the same as we did before. Everyone stays together, in the same role. That’s also important for us.”
