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.”
SERGIO PEREZ BREAKS SILENCE ON CADILLAC’S FIRST FOUR RACES OF 2026 F1 SEASON
Discover why Sergio Perez is confident in Cadillac’s 2026 path despite urgent needs for better pace and reliability fixes.
Sergio Perez didn’t waste time sharing his thoughts on Cadillac after the first four races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Cadillac shows up in 2026 as F1’s newest team, but honestly, not a lot of people expected fireworks right away. With veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Perez behind the wheel, the team’s start has been a mix, some moments full of promise, others derailed by reliability issues.
Still, Cadillac isn’t just stuck at the back. Lately, they’ve been right there fighting with Aston Martin and even managed to split them in Miami, which turned a few heads.
Perez knows the team is at risk of falling behind in this crazy-fast development race, though. “We still have work to do, but I’m confident we’re on the right path,” he told reporters, including Motorsport Week.
He added, “Sometimes, once tyre degradation sets in, we can hang with the midfield, but they always seem to find another gear. There’s a long way to go this season, but we’re in a rush to find more pace. We know Aston will get stronger, and we don’t want to be left behind.”
Racing Aston Martin has actually brought Perez some enjoyment. He especially likes battling Fernando Alonso, calling those fights fair and satisfying. Still, he pointed out a weak spot: “We’re having fun with them. Racing Fernando is always great because he’s so fair. But we struggled with tyre degradation; we burnt through them too quickly. We picked the hard compound, but honestly, looking back, I should’ve gone with the soft.”
He said there’s plenty to analyse, and really, the key is getting a better grip on their car as they look ahead to Canada. “We don’t have much time, but in the short term, we need to fix the degradation. We have some ideas, but putting them together is our biggest challenge in the next few weeks.”
Cadillac may be the new kid on the block and still finding its feet, but it’s already starting to make an impact. The road out of the lower ranks won’t be easy, but they’re moving in the right direction.
HOW KIMI ANTONELLI’S THREE-RACE WIN STREAK IS REDEFINING THE MERCEDES TEAM HIERARCHY
With a 43-second gap in Miami, Antonelli proves he’s ready to lead the World Championship. Can Russell bounce back in Canada?
David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver, recently pointed out that Kimi Antonelli might be on track to overtake George Russell as Mercedes’ team leader.
Antonelli has been on an impressive run, clinching victories in the last three races and pulling ahead by 20 points over his main competitor and teammate, Russell.
At the Miami race, the young Italian once again outperformed his more seasoned teammate, with Russell managing only fourth place, trailing by 43 seconds.
Coulthard acknowledged Antonelli’s rapid rise in 2026, which is just his second season in F1. He highlighted Antonelli’s strengths and suggested that the Italian is, in many ways, now leading the Mercedes team.
“He’s come of age,” Coulthard said during the Up To Speed podcast.
Despite being relatively new, Antonelli has shown resilience, dealing not only with the pressure from a driver like Lando ready to strike but also with technical glitches like inconsistent paddle shifts. Coulthard mentioned how Antonelli kept his cool even when his engineer, Bono, was trying to help troubleshoot the issue in a tense moment.
“I think he’s earned the right to lead the World Championship,” Coulthard added, noting that this situation probably feels uncomfortable for George. Still, the expectations now lean heavily toward Antonelli leading the team, especially based on recent results.
Coulthard also pointed out that Russell has the experience and skill to reclaim his position as the team’s lead driver, but emphasised that only one can come out on top; someone must finish first and the other second.
The rivalry between them might start opening doors for other teams. Coulthard noted that improvements from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull were already noticeable, especially in Miami.
“Winning in the best car isn’t always straightforward. Many have tried and struggled,” he said.
For Russell, who is feeling the weight of this momentum shift, the upcoming race in Canada will be crucial if he wants to close the gap and halt Antonelli’s winning streak.
