Marko wins new Red Bull contract as Perez and Ricciardo get clarity over futures

04 January 2024 , 18:09

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Helmut Marko will continue to work with Red Bull for three more years (Image: Getty Images)

Red Bull have given stalwart Helmut Marko a new three-year contract, Mirror Sport understands.

Marko has worked with the energy drinks giant's Formula 1 teams since their inception. And, despite being just a few months shy of his 81st birthday, has committed to several more seasons as a key adviser to Christian Horner.

The Austrian has put pen to paper on a three-year contract with the Red Bull parent company. He is not an official employee of the racing team and therefore his salary does not count towards the F1 budget cap.

The deal means Marko will continue to work with Red Bull until he is at least 83. And it also puts to rest speculation in recent months that he is preparing to cut back on the amount of work and travelling he does on a yearly basis.

He told Austrian outlet OE24 last week that he was not planning to make any such changes just yet. He said: "My future has been clarified in a positive sense. Everything will proceed as planned. What if I do all 24 races? Yes, and it won't be stressful for me.

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"If I said to myself that this is a crazy schedule, it would be difficult. The reality is I tell myself that Australia is beautiful and I can't wait to be in Melbourne. I will continue my work for Red Bull Racing from 11am on Friday morning to Sunday evening. I cannot wait."

And the move also offers clarity to Red Bull's drivers they Marko is the man they need to continue to impress. A key part of his role has been to oversee the development of their young racers and decide who is deserving of race seats in F1.

Peter Bayer, chief executive of soon-to-be-rebranded sister team AlphaTauri, recently confirmed Marko still has the final say over who gets race seats. And, of the four current occupants of Red Bull seats on the F1 grid, three of them still have plenty to prove to the 80-year-old.

Max Verstappen's position is beyond reproach, but his team-mate Sergio Perez is in the final 12 months of his contract and under pressure after an underwhelming 2023 season. To keep his seat, he must improve and convince Marko, among others, that he is capable of delivering for the defending champions.

At AlphaTauri, veteran Daniel Ricciardo aims to show Marko not only that he is worthy of his current seat, but that he is capable of stepping up and replacing Perez. And Yuki Tsunoda need to show more development in his fourth F1 season if he is to earn a fifth, even if he is well-liked by Marko.

Daniel Moxon