VETTEL, VERSTAPPEN ARCHITECT: MARKO STEPS DOWN AFTER TWO DECADES SHAPING RED BULL
The 82-year-old F1 icon said narrowly missing the 2025 World Championship cemented his decision to step down, marking the end of Red Bull’s influential era.
After over 20 years as Red Bull's motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko plans to step down at the close of 2025. At 82 years old, he was a main player in Red Bull's run in Formula 1 and directed the Red Bull Junior Program.
Helmut Marko shared, “I’ve spent six decades in motorsport, and my time at Red Bull for the last 20-plus years has been amazing and really paid off. It's been great to help build this and share it with so many talented people. I’m filled with when I think of everything we've built and done together.”
“Just missing out on the world championship this season hit me hard and made me realise it's time for me to wrap up this long, intense, and winning part of my life. I hope the whole team keeps doing great, and I think they'll be in the fight for both world championship titles again next year.”
Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO of corporate projects and investments at Red Bull, stated, “Helmut told me he wants to end his time as motorsport advisor at the end of the year. I’m sad about his choice, since he’s been a big influence for over two decades, and his leaving marks the end of an important period.”
“For more than 20 years, Helmut has done so much for our team and the whole Red Bull Motorsport family. He was key in all the important strategic calls that made Red Bull Racing what it is now: a many-time world champion, an engine of new ideas, and a main part of international motorsport.”
“His eye for talent not only shaped our junior program but also left a mark on Formula 1 overall. Guys like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen are just some of the many drivers who were found, supported, and led to the top under him. His passion, his courage to make tough calls, and his skill for spotting potential will not be forgotten.”
“After a long talk, I knew I had to respect what he wanted, because I felt like the timing was right for him to make this move. Even though he's leaving a big hole, we respect his choice and are thankful for all he's done for Red Bull Racing. We will miss Helmut Marko a lot, both at work and personally. We wish him all the best going forward and hope he stays close to the team.”
GEORGE RUSSELL ADMITS ANTONELLI IS "EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK" BUT REFUSES TO CONCEDE TITLE
Kimi Antonelli secured his 3rd straight F1 win in Miami, leaving George Russell 43 seconds behind and 20 points down in the title race. (130 chars)
George Russell isn’t flinching. He’s not ready to let go of the story, even as Kimi Antonelli keeps grabbing headlines. Antonelli’s been tearing it up this season – three straight wins, all from pole – and it’s got people talking. Miami was rough for Russell; he finished fourth, over 43 seconds behind Antonelli. That gap isn’t just big; it’s glaring, and it’s putting some real heat on their rivalry at Mercedes.
Russell isn’t pretending things are fine, but he’s not throwing in the towel either. He gets what Antonelli’s doing and gives props where they’re deserved. “He’s a fantastic driver, and he’s been fast since day one,” Russell said. “You don’t win all those championships as a kid if you’re not quick.” He means it, but he’s also drawing a boundary. Russell still believes in himself, and he’s not giving up on the championship.
“I’ve still got confidence in myself, and I haven’t forgotten how to drive,” he said with a little smile. “It’s just a tricky patch, but we’re only four races in; there’s a lot more to come. We’ll sort things out over the next few weeks.”
That “tricky patch” doesn’t just mean some tough luck; it includes a 20-point deficit and a teammate who won’t stop rewriting history. Antonelli’s winning streak has changed the vibe at Mercedes, at least for now.
Russell knows all about momentum and how it doesn’t always stick around. “He’s got momentum right now; he’s flying,” Russell admitted. “But I’ve won championships myself, and I know momentum swings back and forth all year.” He actually doesn’t seem bothered by the points gap. “Honestly, I’m not even thinking about it,” he said.
It’s a calm answer from a guy who’s been here before, leaning on experience while Antonelli rides his hot streak. Russell keeps saying 'big picture, patience, not panic'.
“I just want to get back on top of the podium,” he said. “I had the pace for the first three races, but this weekend I was nowhere close. It could have gone very differently these last few weeks, and this weekend could’ve just been a blip. But some races in Japan and China didn’t go my way. That’s how F1 goes sometimes.”
Still, confidence doesn’t erase a 20-point gap, not if Antonelli keeps cruising. If Antonelli keeps piling up wins, Russell’s going to have to fight more than just the stopwatch. Losing to your teammate over and over starts to mess with your head. Russell began the season as the guy to beat, but the longer this keeps up, the tougher it gets to grab hold of the story again.
He’s holding firm, for now. But F1 doesn’t wait for anyone. What does Russell call “just a tricky run”? Well, if momentum doesn’t swing his way soon, it could become a whole lot more than that.
MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES FRONT ROW IN MIAMI AS RED BULL UPGRADES DELIVER IMMEDIATE RESULTS
Charles Leclerc admitted surprise at Red Bull's pace after Max Verstappen finished P2, just 0.166s behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.
Charles Leclerc expected Red Bull to bounce back, but he couldn’t help admiring Max Verstappen’s raw speed at the Miami Grand Prix.
Red Bull rolled into Miami with a big upgrade, looking to recover after a rough start to the season. Verstappen, a four-time world champ, landed his Red Bull in second during qualifying. He was only 0.166 seconds behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, nearly snatching pole. After qualifying, Verstappen said he finally feels like he’s back in control of his car.
Leclerc was impressed by the turnaround. “Honestly, it’s not shocking to see Kimi up there. Mercedes has been the quickest team this year, and Kimi’s been amazing these last few races,” Leclerc said. “But Max and Red Bull are coming back like this? That’s a bit more surprising. The upgrades clearly worked, and you can’t forget how strong that team really is. You never expect them to just sit back and accept a slow start.”
He added, “We figured they’d come back swinging, but to see them right back on the front row after struggling at the start… that’s something else. It’s pretty remarkable. Still, my job’s the same: beat those guys. That’s where my head’s at right now.”
Leclerc had to settle for third on the grid for Sunday’s race. Ferrari looked strong early in qualifying, but their hopes faded by Q3.
He talked about the changing conditions, but didn’t think that’s what hurt Ferrari. “The wind definitely played a part, but track temperature wasn’t all that different, so I don’t think that’s the reason,” he said. “Maybe the track changed, and we didn’t see it coming, or maybe pushing harder today in qualifying just made our car’s weak spots stand out more.”
Leclerc admitted he hadn’t dug into the numbers yet; he’d just gotten out of the car. “We’ll have to check the details to figure out exactly where we lost time.”
