Outgoing Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko is reportedly set to receive his full annual salary for 2026 \u2013 believed to be in the region of\u00a0\u20ac10million \u2013 as part of a \u2018golden handshake\u2019 agreement.<\/p>\n
Parent company Red Bull GmbH announced on Tuesday that Marko is to leave his role as a senior adviser after more than 20 years.<\/p>\n
Rumour: Helmut Marko set for\u00a0\u20ac10million payoff after Red Bull exit<\/p>\n
It came just days after PlanetF1.com revealed in the aftermath of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix<\/a> that the 82-year-old\u2019s future was in serious doubt.<\/p>\n Marko has played an instrumental role in Red Bull\u2019s success in Formula 1 over the last two decades, driving the team\u2019s commitment to unearthing talented young racers.<\/p>\n The Austrian, who made nine F1 starts and won the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours race during his own racing career, helped bring the likes of Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen into F1 with Red Bull.<\/p>\n In depth: Helmut Marko\u2019s Red Bull legacy<\/p>\n Revealed: The shortest F1 careers this century in the brutal world of Formula 1<\/a><\/p>\n All the mid-season driver swaps Red Bull have made in their F1 history<\/a><\/p>\n Vettel, who remains the sport\u2019s youngest-ever world champion, and Verstappen have gone on to win four drivers\u2019 title apiece.<\/p>\n A report by German publication BILD has claimed that Marko is to be paid a handsome severance package despite his exit with the veteran in line for a payoff of \u20ac10million (\u00a38.7m\/$7.4m according to current exchange rates).<\/p>\n It is said that the \u2018golden handshake\u2019 payment is \u2018a sign of appreciation\u2019 to Marko for his achievements in helping to discover drivers like Vettel and Verstappen.<\/p>\n Marko, who famously lost sight in his left eye at the 1972 French Grand Prix after debris kicked up by Ronnie Peterson\u2019s car pierced his visor, is known to have interests outside of motor racing.<\/p>\n The former Bonnier and BRM F1 racer owns four luxury hotels in his hometown of Graz, with Companies House documents listing his occupation<\/a> as \u2018hotelier\u2019.<\/p>\n Watch our drifting finale with V14<\/p>\n In a statement issued by Red Bull GmbH to announce his exit on Tuesday, Marko said that now is \u201cthe right moment\u201d to step away from his role.<\/p>\n He said:\u00a0\u201cI have been involved in motorsport for six decades now and the past 20-plus years at Red Bull have been an extraordinary and extremely successful journey.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been a wonderful time that I have been able to help shape and share with so many talented people.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything we have built and achieved together fills me with pride.<\/p>\n \u201cNarrowly missing out on the world championship this season has moved me deeply and made it clear to me that now is the right moment for me personally to end this very long, intense and successful chapter.<\/p>\n \u201cI wish the entire team continued success and am convinced that they will be fighting for both world championship titles again next year.\u201d<\/p>\n More on Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n Max Verstappen news<\/a><\/p>\n