F1 News: Helmut Marko's 13-second Red Bull sacking details REVEALED

Helmut Marko at the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 News & Gossip

Marko's 13-second Red Bull sacking details REVEALED

Helmut Marko is a force to be reckoned with within Red Bull

Originally written by Cal Gaunt. This version is a translation.

Tuesday 5 March 2024 19:57

Richard Verschoor has revealed how it took just a 13-second conversation for Helmut Marko to sack him at Red Bull.

Now ex-Red Bull junior Verschoor was competing in Formula Renault alongside his team-mate Neil Verhagen at the time, having just rounded out the 2017 season.

He scored points in the first two rounds, secured a podium in Barcelona, and finished the season ninth.

Article continues under video

Despite seven consecutive non-scoring finishes, he rebounded with a notable fourth place at Paul Ricard.

Helmut Marko is well known for his ruthless nature at Red Bull

Yet shortly after, the then-17-year-old was informed of his dismissal in a brutally short conversation with Marko.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Richard Verschoor (@richardverschoor)

The ruthless nature of Helmut Marko

"When I went to Formula Renault, I got kicked out at the end of the year," he told the NU.nl podcast.

"I was sitting opposite my teammate, Neil Verhagen, and he had finished behind me in the championship. He was then called by Helmut Marko, which I still find strange.

"Then I saw him walk away and I thought: he's out. Then he came back to the table and said, 'I can come for an interview'.

"Then I thought, 'I can come for an interview too'. After that I didn't hear anything, so I called Marko myself. The conversation took thirteen seconds and he said, 'yes, sorry. It's not going to happen'.

"I was seventeen at the time. That really hit home. I had no explanation. In the end they just want the best, someone like Verstappen. In that respect I was behind. I didn't have the development that Verstappen had."

Red Bull Helmut Marko