Max Verstappen has backed Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko after it emerged the Austrian could be suspended by Red Bull.
Marko, an 80-year-old ex-Formula 1 driver, faces disciplinary action as the result of an internal investigation amid the controversy around team principal Christian Horner.
Verstappen said: “It’s very important that he stays within the team. If such an important pillar falls away, that’s not good for my situation as well. So, for me, Helmut has to stay, for sure.”
A source close to Red Bull told BBC Sport the plan was to suspend Marko.
Marko told Austrian broadcaster ORF: “It’s difficult to judge, or let’s put it this way, ultimately, I’ll decide for myself what I do. The theoretical possibility always exists.
“It’s such a complex issue. Again, we want peace in the team. This world championship will be difficult enough with 24 races and we have to concentrate on that.”
Marko said that there was a possibility he might not be at the next race in Australia on 22-24 March.
Asked about whether Marko was being suspended, a Red Bull Racing spokesperson told BBC Sport: “That’s news to us.”
The spokesperson emphasised that Marko was employed directly by Red Bull Gmbh in Austria and that Red Bull Racing had no power over him.
Marko is a highly influential person within Red Bull. As motorsport adviser, he runs the company’s young driver programme and was responsible for bringing Verstappen into the team.
He was a close ally of the late co-owner Dietrich Mateschitz, and effectively was his eyes and ears within the team.
Mateschitz died in October 2022, rendering Marko’s position less secure.
News about Marko’s possible suspension comes 24 hours after Red Bull suspended the woman who made allegations of inappropriate and controlling behaviour about Horner.
Horner faced an internal investigation by Red Bull but the company’s board dismissed the allegations on the eve of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
Twenty-four hours later, a cache of messages purporting to involve Horner was leaked to senior F1 personnel and media.
Verstappen added: “My loyalty to (Marko) is very big. I’ve always expressed this to everyone within the team, everyone high up, that he’s an important part in my decision-making for all the time in the future as well within the team.
“He has built this team together with Dietrich from day one, and he’s always been very loyal to the team, to everyone within the team, to make sure that everyone would keep their positions already from back in the day.
“And I think it’s also very important, of course, that you give the man a lot of respect for what he has done. And that comes back also to loyalty, you know, and integrity.”
Verstappen’s comments will only heighten speculation about the driver’s future with the team, with rumours linking him to the vacancy at Mercedes next year following Lewis Hamilton’s decision to move to Ferrari.
On Wednesday, Verstappen said that his “intention is absolutely to stay, and as long as we perform, there is no reason to leave”.
This comes less than a week since Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, warned that the Horner controversy was “driving people apart” and that the team would “explode” if their team boss remained in position.
Horner said on Thursday that it was “time to draw a line under” the controversy swirling around the team.
But Red Bull’s engine partner Honda has called for more details about the matter.
A spokesperson for the Japanese company said: “We do not have full details on the matter at this point, therefore Honda are not in a position to make any detailed comment. We look forward to full clarity as soon as possible.”
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
