Outgoing Red Bull Formula 1 adviser Helmut Marko has launched a scathing attack on former team principal Christian Horner, accusing him of "lying" and playing "dirty games" during their final years working together.
A Partnership Unravels
The public denunciation from the 82-year-old Austrian, who announced his retirement last week, marks a dramatic new chapter in the internal power struggle that has rocked the championship-winning team. Horner, a foundational figure who launched the Red Bull F1 team alongside Marko in 2005, was dismissed from his role in July this year after two decades and 14 world championships with the outfit.
Marko, who controlled the team's driver academy and was known for his decisive driver choices, told Dutch outlet De Limburger that the atmosphere had soured significantly. "Those last few years with Horner were not pleasant," Marko stated. "There were dirty games being played."
Allegations of Fabricated Stories
In his interview, Marko cited specific examples of what he claims were false narratives created to undermine him. He referenced a past controversy where he was reported to have said that Mexican driver Sergio Perez was "less focused" than his Dutch or German counterparts.
"That was fabricated, perhaps by them," Marko asserted. He also denied spreading a rumour in 2024 that Red Bull's engine development was behind schedule, a claim he says jeopardised the team's sponsorship with Ford. "I never said that, but Horner wanted to use it to suspend me," Marko claimed, adding that only an intervention from star driver Max Verstappen in Jeddah prevented it.
"We were increasingly able to prove that Horner was lying about all sorts of things," Marko continued. "Once Chalerm [Yoovidhya, Red Bull’s majority shareholder] realised this too, he had a change of heart."
The Roots of the Rift
The relationship between Horner and Marko deteriorated amid the controversy surrounding allegations of inappropriate behaviour made against Horner by a female colleague ahead of the 2024 season. Although Horner was cleared twice following internal investigations, a deep divide emerged within the team's leadership.
Horner retained the support of Thai majority shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya, while Marko was backed by Red Bull GmbH in Austria and Jos Verstappen, father of lead driver Max. Despite overseeing Verstappen's fourth title win in 2024, Horner was surprisingly relieved of his duties after July's British Grand Prix, having ultimately lost Yoovidhya's backing.
What Next for Horner and Red Bull?
With Marko departing at the end of the year, a turbulent era for Red Bull Racing appears to be closing. Christian Horner, now free to return to Formula 1 in the spring of 2026, is reportedly seeking a route back into the sport. The 52-year-old is said to be eyeing a potential move to the Alpine team, though he is understood to be keen on acquiring a stake in any outfit he joins.
The 2026 F1 season is scheduled to commence in Melbourne, Australia on 8 March 2026, setting the stage for a new beginning for both the team and the figures who shaped its most successful period.
