Dr. Red Bull’s Helmut Marko has revealed he was considering leaving the team even before he was accused of leaking evidence about Christian Horner’s behavior towards a female colleague.
The 80-year-old motorsport consultant insisted this weekend that he will not be banned as the scandal consuming the Formula 1 team continues.
That followed discussions with the energy drinks company’s head of sport, Oliver Mintzlaff, in the paddock at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah.
Marko had previously hinted that he would retire, a departure that may have led to world champion Max Verstappen joining him in a show of loyalty to his mentor.
But in a fresh twist, Marko told the Dutch newspaper The Telegraph Sunday that he had considered running away even before the Horner controversy broke out.
Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko (right) said he would not be suspended by the Formula 1 team after being accused of leaking evidence about the conduct of Christian Horner (left).
Marko is mentor to world champion Max Verstappen (right), who won in Jeddah on Saturday
Marko (left) with Verstappen (second from left), Horner (second from right) and Sergio Perez (right) after Red Bull achieved another victory in Saudi Arabia on Saturday
“I hope it’s all over as soon as possible,” said the Austrian.
“I was already thinking about leaving at the end of last year, but I also think we have to think about the legacy of Dietrich (Mateschitz, the founder of Red Bull), what his ideas were and where they took us. We owe that to him.’
De Telegraaf also reported that Marko had planned to fly back to Europe from Saudi Arabia with Horner, but instead opted to take a private jet with Verstappen.
Marko suggested he was clear after his conversation with Mintzlaff, saying: “We decided that these rumors (about the leaks) were spread and had no legal background. I will not be suspended.
‘Our goal is to win the world championship. We will have to work hard for that.’
On whether Verstappen, who recorded two consecutive wins to start the season in Jeddah, would extend his Red Bull contract until 2028, Marko added: ‘That’s a long time…
‘I was very grateful for how loyal Max was. I was impressed. We are not going to Mercedes together at the moment.’
All this keeps the pressure on Red Bull director Horner, 50, amid reports that the women at the center of the ‘sex texts’ scandal plan to appeal the decision that cleared Horner of wrongdoing.
Horner, pictured with wife Geri Halliwell, was cleared of ‘coercive conduct’ towards a female employee before messages allegedly exchanged between the pair were leaked
Horner kept Halliwell close in Jeddah as Red Bull cruised to another victory
She was suspended from her role at Red Bull after an independent internal investigation cleared Horner of “coercive conduct”, a verdict that was followed by text conversations between the pair allegedly leaked via anonymous email.
Horner’s wife, former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, joined him again in Saudi Arabia in a public show of support.
The Sun reports this last weekend, the female employee changed legal representation and plans to appeal the verdict acquitting Horner.
A source quote from the outlet claims, “Christian and Geri are ready for more fireworks, but a thorough investigation has already proven in his favor.
Christian Horner, 50, shared photos of his wife Geri Halliwell, 51, in a Mother’s Day post
Horner shared photos of Halliwell with the couple’s seven-year-old son on Instagram
‘The woman’s honesty has been questioned and her evidence found to be flawed.’
On Sunday, Horner received hundreds of comments from stunned fans after posting a Mother’s Day message on Halliwell.
Fans claimed the timing of his post was ‘strategic’ amid his ‘sex texts’ scandal and branded him ‘stupid’ for not disabling comments on his Instagram.
He shared photos of Geri on the occasion of Mother’s Day, along with a heartfelt tribute to her in the caption.
He wrote: ‘Happy Mother’s Day – I am so grateful to the mothers in our family for all they do. We are always grateful, today and every day.”
