Breaking:Marko Accuses Horner of Plotting His Suspension as …read more
Marko Accuses Horner of Plotting His Suspension as …read more
Helmut Marko has made a stunning claim about his turbulent final months at Red Bull, alleging that former team principal Christian Horner attempted to engineer his suspension in a behind-the-scenes power struggle that ultimately reshaped the Formula 1 giant.
For the first time in two decades, Red Bull will begin a new F1 season without either of the men who defined much of its success. The departure of both Horner and Marko marks the end of an era for the Milton Keynes outfit, which dominated the sport across multiple regulation cycles and produced some of the most successful drivers in F1 history.
Speaking openly about his exit, Marko suggested that internal tensions with Horner reached breaking point long before the public became aware of Red Bull’s leadership crisis. According to the Austrian, Horner worked to undermine his position within the company, believing that Marko’s influence over driver decisions and sporting direction threatened his own authority.
Marko claimed that efforts were made to portray him as a disruptive figure inside the organisation, with the intention of having him temporarily removed from his role. While he stopped short of providing detailed evidence, he insisted that the situation contributed to a toxic environment that ultimately forced his departure.
“The atmosphere became unbearable,” Marko reportedly said. “There were deliberate attempts to isolate me and weaken my role. That was never about performance — it was about control.”
The 80-year-old also pointed to Horner’s prolonged leadership struggles as a major factor in Red Bull’s decline during the latter part of the 2025 season. He argued that the internal instability distracted the team from on-track performance and damaged its ability to support Max Verstappen in his pursuit of a historic fifth consecutive world championship.
According to Marko, Verstappen felt the effects of the leadership conflict more than anyone. Strategic errors, development delays and communication breakdowns, he claimed, stemmed directly from the uncertainty at the top of the organisation.
“Max deserved a stable team around him,” Marko said. “Instead, he was fighting not just competitors, but internal politics.”
Red Bull ultimately finished the season below expectations, with rivals capitalising on the team’s disorganisation. Verstappen, despite producing several outstanding drives, fell short of the title in what Marko described as a “lost opportunity created from within.”
Horner, who led Red Bull for 20 years and oversaw six constructors’ championships, has not publicly responded to Marko’s latest accusations. Since his departure, he has been linked with possible future roles in Formula 1, including advisory or ownership positions at rival teams.
Meanwhile, Red Bull has embarked on a comprehensive restructuring process. New leadership figures have been installed, and the team is seeking to rebuild trust both internally and with its drivers. Sources within the paddock suggest that the priority is to restore a clear chain of command and eliminate the political divisions that plagued the organisation.
Despite his bitterness, Marko acknowledged that Red Bull’s achievements under the previous leadership should not be forgotten. However, he insisted that personal ambition ultimately damaged what could have been an even greater legacy.
“There was enough success for everyone,” he said. “But when ego enters the equation, the team always suffers.”
As Formula 1 prepares for a new season, the fallout from Red Bull’s internal war continues to dominate headlines. The once-unbreakable partnership between Horner and Marko now stands as a cautionary tale about how power struggles can unravel even the most successful sporting empires.
Whether the full truth behind their feud will ever emerge remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: Red Bull’s future will be written without two of the men who builts its past.
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