Helmut Marko Updates on Red Bull Saga as Max Verstappen Stays Focused on Racing

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has revealed that Max Verstappen has “disengaged” from the off-track controversy involving the team, following an investigation into team principal Christian Horner after allegations of inappropriate behavior by an employee.

The allegations against Horner were dismissed following an internal investigation by Red Bull GmbH, which concluded at the end of February. Horner consistently denied the claims. However, Marko mentioned to an Austrian publication that, to his knowledge, the case “is not yet legally settled.”

The complainant has chosen to appeal the results of the internal investigation and was suspended on full pay by Red Bull during the appeal process.

Speculation around the team’s future, including Verstappen’s, had intensified due to the ongoing questions. Despite being contracted with Red Bull until 2028, there were rumors that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff considered Verstappen a top candidate to replace Lewis Hamilton next season.

Marko praised Verstappen, the reigning World Champion, for maintaining his focus despite the surrounding controversy. “Max disengaged himself out of it and is concentrated on racing. So he did a very good job,” Marko told Austrian publication OE24.

Marko noted that while the matter between Horner and the employee is “not yet legally settled,” it is essential for the team to remain united and focused. “But that is something you have to put aside, especially in a situation where you are so challenged as a team and technically and everyone has to pull together,” he added.

Verstappen has publicly emphasized his desire to remain focused on racing and leave the investigation matters to Red Bull’s parent company. At the Australian Grand Prix in March, he stated, “I don’t want to always be too involved with these kinds of things. Because at the end of the day, I’m the driver and I’m here to look at the performance side of things. That’s what I’m hired for.”

He expressed confidence that the situation was handled appropriately by the team, adding, “But from what I know, everything was handled in the right way. I’m not going into any further details from that side because I don’t know more than that and I also don’t want to know, because that’s not my job or my task within the team.”