Christian Horner F1 News: Red Bull boss rejects blame on Helmut Marko SUSPENSION claims

Dr. Helmut Marko talking with Christian Horner during testing — Photo: © IMAGO

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Horner rejects blame on Marko SUSPENSION claims

The Red Bull advisor's future has been called into question

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Wednesday 13 March 2024 08:27 Updated: 12:11

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Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has opened up on rumours surrounding Helmut Marko's future with the world champions.

Marko is understood to have been the subject of a meeting with Red Bull GmbH managing director Oliver Mintzlaff on the morning of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with a potential suspension believed to be on the table.

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While the 80-year-old was positive about how the meeting went, and claimed that everything was 'back to normal' at Red Bull, the question mark around the Austrian lead to star driver Max Verstappen revealing that he would not stay with the team if Marko left.

It followed what has been a tumultuous month or so for the Milton Keynes-based outfit, after Horner himself was place under an internal investigation for alleged 'inappropriate behaviour', accusations that he was cleared of.

Christian Horner and Helmut Marko work together

Christian Horner has been under fire of late

Horner left surprised by Marko meeting

In amongst the furore of the Horner saga, supposed messages allegedly sent by the 50-year-old were anonymously leaked to the press, with rumours that Marko had been involved, rumours that the 80-year-old completely dismantled.

Now, Horner has revealed that he 'was not involved' in the meetings regarding Marko's future, and expressed relief that the team's advisor will be sticking around, having been with the outfit since their inception in the sport back in 2005.

“I think the rumour about suspension was as news to the team as it was to anybody else,” Horner said, speaking to the media. “We were quite surprised to hear that.

“Helmut is a contractor to Red Bull GmbH, so it was an issue between them. We weren't party or part of that discussion.

“I've known Helmut since 1996, and he's played an important role over the years. That role has evolved over the years. I've known him a very, very long time.

“Coming up to 81 years of age, he's still obviously motivated about Formula 1, which is a positive thing.

“There has been no decision-making process around Helmut, so I am not quite sure where the rumour has permeated from. But it is not something I’ve been involved in.”