Helmut Marko has stated that Christian Horner has effectively taken on a role similar to that of Red Bull Racing’s late founder, Dietrich Mateschitz, especially in the wake of the team’s ongoing challenges. As Red Bull continues its strong performance in the 2024 Formula 1 season, carrying over its dominance from a record-setting 2023, the atmosphere within the team has been complex due to an off-track investigation involving Horner.
This investigation centered around allegations made by a colleague, which Horner denied, and was ultimately dismissed without any upheld appeals. This situation has led to speculation about a potential power struggle within the team.
In the wake of Mateschitz’s passing in October 2022, Marko indicated that Horner’s assumption of more responsibilities has significantly altered the team’s dynamics. To mitigate internal conflicts and maintain focus on their primary objective of winning Marko and Horner have established measures to ensure the team remains competitive.
The overarching goal is to retain three-time World Champion Max Verstappen, especially as he has faced challenges in recent races, with McLaren’s Lando Norris closing the gap in the championship standings.
Verstappen has not secured a victory in his last eight races, leading to speculation about his future as McLaren’s performance has surged, with their MCL38 car becoming a benchmark in the paddock.
Both Marko and Horner have confirmed that Verstappen’s contract includes a performance-related exit clause, which has drawn interest from other teams, notably Mercedes and Aston Martin. Despite the challenges, Marko expressed optimism about Verstappen’s prospects for winning a fourth consecutive title, highlighting his skills and mental strength.
Marko referred to the 2023 season as “unique,” acknowledging that such exceptional performance levels were unlikely to be sustained indefinitely. Nevertheless, he noted that the start of the 2024 season has been successful, despite some turbulence surrounding Horner’s leadership.
Marko emphasized the importance of unity within the team to secure a championship-winning car and to keep Verstappen on board, asserting that they have collectively agreed to work towards this goal.
Despite current challenges, Marko remains confident in Verstappen’s ability to clinch his fourth title. He praised Verstappen as the best and fastest driver in the field, particularly emphasizing his mental fortitude in championship battles compared to competitors like Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.
Although Leclerc still has a chance in the title race, his significant deficit of 86 points to Verstappen makes his prospects appear bleak with only six races remaining in the season.