F1 News: Helmut Marko Hints At Red Bull Power Struggle - "Trying To Redefine Their Powers"
With rumors of tensions rising between Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and senior team advisor Helmut Marko, the latest revelations from the advisor to the Austrian media confirm that there is indeed an ongoing power struggle within the company.
It is said that the balance of power shifted within the Red Bull group after the death of founder Dietrich Mateschitz last year, one of whose close aides was Marko. Consequently, the superiority that the advisor once sported began to fade, making him vulnerable to attacks from staff members demanding changes.
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Recently, Brazilian outlet Globo broke out a story that Horner was looking for a way to get rid of Marko to take complete control of the group's F1 operations. It was even reported that the future of the senior advisor was to be decided in a meeting within the Red Bull group this week.
However, Marko has rubbished the turmoil claims but revealed that there indeed is a power struggle within Red Bull. But he also added that he decides when it is time for him to leave and not "Mr. Horner." Speaking to OE24, when the 80-year-old was asked how he was doing, he replied:
“Good! Contrary to many assumptions I have to disappoint the, as they say, doomsayers.
"There is no summit this week.
"I have a contract until the end of next year. When and how I stop, when it’s over, I decide and not, for example, Mr. Horner.”
When asked if there was a power struggle between him and Horner within Red Bull, he refused to give names but acknowledged the existence of some friction. He said:
“Due to the new constellation (after the death of Mateschitz, ed), everything is different. People are trying to redefine their powers.”
The big revelation confirms that the report of a shift in the balance of power after the founder's death was not a rumor. In addition, it was said that there were differences between the two Red Bull seniors over the extension of sister team AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda's contract, with Marko wanting to have Liam Lawson in place of the Japanese driver.
But the Austrian has brushed aside that report, citing it as speculation. He concluded:
“This is all just speculation. Just like the one about Perez.
"There is no ultimatum for Perez.
"I think we’re winning too much – incredible things are being brought into the world. Max Verstappen’s performance should be appreciated much more, it is extraordinary.”
