Red Bull team manager by Christian Horner sensitive message material was known to have possibly been widely circulated in F1 circles last week.
Even though the issues were discussed behind closed doors at Red Bull and Horner was cleared of all charges, it did not prevent information related to the case from leaking to the media.
According to several media, the team’s long-term advisor Helmut Markon it is suspected that Horner’s messages were leaked to the media. Marko, 80, is an Austrian former F1 driver.
Marko has a good relationship with the team’s number one driver to Max Verstappen. His future on Red Bull’s payroll is now threatened if the team finds that he broke team rules regarding information leaks and comments.
Marko is Motorsport according to information, currently under investigation by Red Bull. According to his own words, the advisor would be completely shelved from the operation of the stable.
80-year-old Marko has commented on the matter in such a way that he will ultimately decide for himself what he will do about it.
– I think it’s such a complicated thing. We would like peace in the team again, Marko told.
Red Bull spokesperson commented to the BBCthat the stable was not aware of the threat of Marko being put on the shelf.
Only a day earlier, Red Bull had announced that it had dismissed a woman who had accused team manager Horner of inappropriate behavior.
Marko meets the CEO of Red Bull by Oliver Mintzlaff in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, where he will learn his fate and whether he will continue in his role or not.
The team’s decision on the advisor’s future may also be decisive for the future of Red Bull as a whole, as it is known that star driver Verstappen may leave the team if Marko is fired.
February 5: Red Bull announces that About Christian Horner an independent investigation has been launched. A female employee of the stable had accused Horner of inappropriate and controlling behavior.
February 11: The attorney interviews Horner for several hours, but the hearing ends without a resolution.
February 15: Red Bull will launch a car for the 2024 F1 season. Horner commented that the investigation is a “distraction” for his team.
February 28: The internal investigation ends, Horner is free of accusations and continues to lead the team.
February 29: Heading into first practice for the Bahrain GP, Horner says the unity of the Red Bull team has never been stronger. On the same day, an anonymous entity sends an email to 149 people. Among them are F1 journalists, F1 team managers and, for example, the president of the FIA Mohammed Bin Sulayem. Attached to the e-mail is a questionable exchange of messages between Horner and a female employee of the stable, but the messages have so far not been proven to be authentic.
March 7: Red Bull suspends the woman who made a complaint about Horner’s behavior.
March 8th: Red Bull advisor Helmut Markon is suspected of having leaked the messages to the media.
Red Bull’s mix-up advantage for Mercedes
Marko’s situation is significant for Red Bull, as it has become apparent in recent days that his presence at the team could be critical to Verstappen’s future.
Autosport says that there were indications that there was a clause in Verstappen’s contract that would allow the driver to leave if Marko leaves – which is why the Austrian considers it critical that the situation could be resolved soon.
– Max is definitely the team’s strongest asset. At the moment, there is no faster driver, Marko said.
Mercedes Lewis Hamilton announced at the beginning of February that he will be moving to the Ferrari team for the next season. Mercedes would have a big gap to fill in the place of the driver who brought world champions to the team.
If Verstappen leaves Red Bull after all the trouble – could Mercedes be the new address? At least this is what the Mercedes team manager hopes for Toto Wolff.
There is a stable British media Autosport hinted at the possibility of acquiring Marko as his “mascot” in the Verstappen negotiations, in the same way as the F1 legend Niki Lauda was involved at the time of Hamilton’s 2013 contract negotiations.
– We are missing our old mascot, Wolff said in an ORF interview, referring to Lauda, who passed away in 2019.
– If they lose Helmut, it will certainly be a loss for Red Bull. Then we take Helmut, Wolff added.
Wolff has been open to the idea of Verstappen moving to Mercedes, but is also aware that his team will need to produce a faster car to convince Verstappen.
– We have a seat available in 2025 and 2026. But Max will drive where the fastest car is, and at the moment it is with Red Bull, Wolff emphasized.
Tightened gaps?
Also the team’s number one driver Max Verstappen has commented possible shelving of Marko.
– It is very important that he stays in the team. I feel that if such an important part of our team drops out, it’s not a good thing for my situation either, said Verstappen.
Verstappen has indirectly announced that there will not necessarily be anything holding him back in the team if Marko is thrown out.
Verstappen, who is leading the overall competition, has previously also shown his support for Horner, who is struggling in the center of the relay.
– Of course (the noise) probably disturbs a bit, but as I said, we only focus on improving the performance and we do it together, Verstappen told the media last week.
Because of Marko’s potentially leaked messages, it can be thought that the gaps in Red Bull’s management ladder have tightened, especially between Horner and Marko. No one knows what will happen next in the stable.
Marko said it is possible that he will not be with the team at the next race in Australia on 22-24. March.
Verstappen will start Saturday night’s race in Saudi Arabia again from the pole position. Mercedes cars are able to travel further when George Russell is in grid seven and Hamilton behind him in grid eight.