Helmut Marko has strongly criticised Formula 1 after the lengthy software-related delay in Malaysia, describing it as “shameful” for a sport operating at such a high technical level. The former Red Bull adviser also claimed that, as far as he knows, the return of V8 turbo engines from 2030 has already been decided.
Marko was unimpressed by the scenes at Sepang, where cars were effectively held hostage by software problems and the start was delayed for more than an hour.
Helmut Marko says Malaysia delay was ‘really boring’
Having stepped away from Formula 1, Helmut Marko experienced the unusual Malaysian Grand Prix as a regular television viewer rather than from inside the Red Bull garage.
The Austrian explained that he no longer follows the additional telemetry screens he once had available and now simply watches the television broadcast.
“I’m now a normal F1 fan who sits on the sofa in front of the TV. I even had the additional screens removed where I could look at the telemetry,” Helmut Marko told Austrian publication OE24.
“Seeing what is broadcast on television is enough for me. Having to wait for more than an hour for the start in Malaysia was really boring.”
Marko brands Formula 1 software problem ‘shameful’
The former Red Bull figure was even more critical when discussing the reason for the prolonged interruption.
“It is really shameful that a high-level product like F1 can be stopped for so long by a software problem,” Helmut Marko said.
For Marko, the incident risks damaging Formula 1’s image and could contribute to a wider rethink of the sport’s technical direction.
“It is a bad look and it will help people reconsider many things.”
Helmut Marko claims V8 turbo return is already decided for 2030
Marko then made a significant claim about Formula 1’s longer-term engine future, suggesting that a move back towards V8 turbo power units from 2030 has already effectively been agreed.
“As far as I know, the return of V8 turbos from 2030 is already a decided matter.”
The comment comes amid growing discussion about the complexity of modern Formula 1 technology after the unusual problems seen in Malaysia.
For Helmut Marko, the Sepang episode provided another example of why the sport may need to reconsider how much complexity it is prepared to accept. What should have been a showcase Grand Prix instead left even one of Formula 1’s most experienced former insiders frustrated by an hour-long delay caused by software.
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