Max Verstappen says the Red Bull Formula 1 team feels “a little bit different” without Helmut Marko’s presence in the garage.
Marko left Red Bull at the end of the 2025 F1 season, having been an integral part of the team for 20 years in the role of motorsport advisor.
The 82-year-old Austrian was a key ally of Verstappen and was instrumental in overseeing the Dutchman’s development as he rose through the junior ranks and made his F1 debut with Red Bull’s sister team Toro Rosso in 2015.
Verstappen went on to claim four successive world championships with Red Bull between 2021-2024 while Marko was part of the team.
“Maybe a few less Austrian-sided jokes from Helmut!” Verstappen told media including Crash.net when asked what was different with the long-serving Marko no longer part of Red Bull’s set-up.
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“But I am still in touch with him anyways. Maybe not so much about details on the car, but just life.
“I shared so many moments with him, so of course it will feel a little bit different in the garage, but you also have to just look ahead and think about performance.
“But like I said, a great relationship and we stay in touch anyway.”
Marko’s departure from Red Bull was once of several major changes the team went through in 2025, with former team principal and CEO Christian Horner sacked following the British Grand Prix.
Laurent Mekies was promoted from Racing Bulls to take over at the helm of Red Bull from Horner.
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Verstappen noted that the changes have refreshed Red Bull and suggested they were “maybe needed”.
“Team’s go through changes in general and I think also from our side it’s been like that. It’s been refreshing as well, maybe needed,” Verstappen explained.
“It’s been nice working with everyone. But it’s always been nice for me to be in this team. It’s really like a second family, so that’s also why I’m very happy to be here.”
Verstappen finished sixth in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix as F1 embarked on its new era of regulations.
Despite being overwhelmingly critical about F1’s new rules and cars, Red Bull insists Verstappen remains as motivated as ever.
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