Helmut Marko signs Red Bull contract as Max Verstappen avoids losing key aide

Helmut Marko has signed a contract with Red Bull and Max Verstappen will not lose his most important assistant.

Helmut Marko will stay at Red Bull until he is 83 years old.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has signed a new three-year contract to stay with the team. The 80-year-old Dutchman worked closely with triple world champion Max Verstappen during his huge success in Formula 1. Verstappen describes his relationship with Marco as “very honest and clear”. The veteran’s driving helped the 26-year-old dominate F1, with Red Bull winning everything in his path last season. The Mirror claimed it was a huge boost for the team and Marco signed a three-year deal. The new contract will keep him in the job until he is at least 83, when he joined 25 years ago to oversee the driver development programme. Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull until the end of the 2028 season and has said he is considering new projects outside of F1 after that.

Helmut Marko joined Red Bull in 1999. (Image: Getty)

There have been suggestions that Marco may want to reduce his work commitments as F1 chiefs push ahead with plans to expand the programme. But the former F1 star denied the claims in an interview with OE24 last week, saying “my future has brightened in a positive way”.

“Everything will go according to plan. What happens when I finish all 24 races? Yes, you will not be stressed by me. It might be hard to tell that it was a crazy schedule.

“Actually, I tell myself that Australia is beautiful and I want to go to Melbourne. I will continue to work at Red Bull Racing from 11am on Friday until late Sunday. I’m so excited.\”

After an excellent 2023 season, Verstappen admitted it was important for Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and adviser Marco to continue in their roles for the foreseeable future. He told Sky Sports: “When you’re doing well and the team is doing really well, it’s very important to keep the people who are so important to the success of the team.”

Red Bull designer Newey admits 2023 will be ‘difficult’ due to testing restrictions.

“Everybody knows. From our perspective, it was always very clear. I don’t know why people outside the team wanted to question that. From our side, it has always been clear that this is the way it should be.”

Now that Marco’s future is secure, Red Bull can continue preparations for the 2024 season. Testing in Bahrain begins at the end of February and the first Grand Prix of the year begins next weekend.