01 December 2023 , 18:12
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Helmut Marko was coy over questions about his future with Red Bull.
The Austrian, 80, has been a key adviser to team principal Christian Horner since the team first landed on the Formula 1 grid for the 2005 season. And despite his advanced years he continues to travel with the rest of the trackside team to each event.
But there has been some discussion over his long-term future of late. His great friend and company founder and owner Dietrich Mateschitz died last year and so the dynamic Marko has with Red Bull leadership has changed.
Rumours earlier this season of discord between Horner and Marko were complete nonsense, as the team principal exclusively told . But still the Austrian admits his future is not set in stone.
"After the season, there will be a general discussion about what I do," he told OE24. "It's common for people to discuss what's going to happen in the future after a season, that's how it's always been."
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Marko is understood to have a consultancy contract that expires at the end of next year. It remains to be seen whether or not he will get an extension to continue in his advisory role beyond that 2024 season.
But he insists he is still physically capable of completing the demanding schedule, despite the fact he will be almost 82 by the time the 2025 campaign gets under way. He added: "I have the strength to do that. In Las Vegas, I was in surprisingly good shape and better than most."
Speaking in October, Verstappen made it clear how important he believes it to be that Marko and all the team's key senior personnel remain in their posts. "Everyone is staying in exactly the same role. That has never really been a discussion," the Dutchman said.
"It's very important when you are doing well, and the team are doing very well, that you keep those people that are very important to the success of the team. Everyone knows that. From our side, it has always been super clear. I don't know why people outside the team were trying to doubt that. From our side, it's always been clear that it has to stay that way.
"People are trying to basically talk some bulls**t because I think the mood in the team is very good. Everyone knows exactly what their role is. It was sad last year when Dietrich passed away but we tried to keep that legacy, keep moving it forward and everyone that we have right now in the team is very important to the success that we are having. So that's why there are also no changes for the future. So I think that basically explains it."