Max Verstappen has addressed the departure of Helmut Marko, the senior advisor who shaped much of his Formula 1 journey at Red Bull. With Marko’s exit from the team at the close of the 2025 season, Verstappen faces his first season without his mentor, marking a significant moment for the Red Bull driver’s career and the team’s future dynamics. The Max Verstappen Helmut Marko absence has stirred emotions and uncertainty within the paddock.
Red Bull Loses a Guiding Force
Helmut Marko, who has been associated with Red Bull since its entry into Formula 1 in 2005, is credited for launching and directing the team’s junior program. Through this initiative, he identified and helped develop top talents like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. Marko became a cornerstone for Red Bull’s success, offering guidance, strategic advice, and mentorship to its prized drivers.
Verstappen, who joined Red Bull as a teenager, has consistently referred to Marko as the prime reason behind his move to the team and for much of his career growth. With Marko’s decision to retire from his advisory post at the end of 2025, Verstappen acknowledged stepping into uncharted territory.
Reflecting on the coming change, Verstappen expressed his personal feelings towards this significant shift:
“It’s a shame that I won’t have my friend and mentor Helmut Marko by my side in 2026. I’ll miss him,” said Verstappen.
Key Departures Shake Verstappen’s Support System
The exit of Helmut Marko is just one of several significant changes for Max Verstappen as he looks ahead to the 2026 Formula 1 season. According to journalist Erik van Haren, a wave of departures among Verstappen’s core engineering group at Red Bull is also underway. By the end of the 2025 season, three out of four of his trusted engineers will no longer be with the team or will be preparing to leave.
Among the departures are Michael Manning, who served as control engineer, and Tom Hart, the team’s performance engineer. David Mart, another crucial figure in Verstappen’s technical setup, will reportedly transition to Williams after fulfilling his Red Bull contract in 2026.
This run of exits will leave Verstappen with only one familiar engineering companion: race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase. Despite earlier rumors about his own future, Lambiase is now confirmed to stay at Red Bull, with his contract running through 2027.
Uncertainty Looms Over 2026 Regulations and Red Bull’s Future
Max Verstappen openly discussed the unpredictability that shrouds the 2026 season. New regulations, untested cars, and unfamiliar engines leave even the reigning world champion unsure of what lies ahead. Verstappen shared that forecasting the competitive landscape of 2026 is nearly impossible under the present circumstances.
“The same question is even harder to answer for 2026 (than it was for 2025). None of us have any idea about the new car, the engine. I think we’ll spend more time in the garages than on the track during the first tests starting on January 26th in Barcelona.”
“Hopefully, we’ll all be wiser by the two February tests in Bahrain,” he added.
Verstappen has already made several visits to Red Bull’s factory to evaluate the upcoming RBPT-Ford power unit, but admits that there is still little clarity surrounding its on-track potential. The first closed pre-season test will run from January 26 to 30, 2026, at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Two further tests are scheduled in Bahrain in February, which will provide the first real indications of how Red Bull’s new car and engine measure up.
Significance for Verstappen and Red Bull’s Pursuit
The absence of Helmut Marko and the departure of seasoned engineers signify a new era for both Max Verstappen and Red Bull. These changes will demand adaptation, as the world champion faces the daunting task of leading the team into a phase marked by technical, strategic, and personnel transitions. As Verstappen prepares for these challenges, Red Bull’s ability to remain competitive will rely on how effectively they manage this period of upheaval, especially as they head into the unknowns of the 2026 season with the new RBPT-Ford collaboration.
