Helmut Marko’s departure: Juan Pablo Montoya reveals the power struggle at Red Bull. Juan Pablo Montoya claims Helmut Marko left Red Bull after realizing he no longer had decision-making power.

The Austrian advisor has left the Milton Keynes team, ending an important chapter in Red Bull’s history.

The Colombian’s perspective

The 2026 season will mark a major milestone for Red Bull as it debuts its first engine entirely developed in the Milton Keynes power unit division. This is a historic step for the team, strongly supported by team principal Christian Horner and endorsed by Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz. However, neither Horner nor veteran advisor Helmut Marko will be front and center to enjoy this pivotal moment.

Juan Pablo Montoya, the former Colombian Formula 1 driver, has suggested that Marko’s departure is primarily a question of power. Juan Pablo Montoya said: “I think Helmut Marko realized he no longer had any power. He used to control driver selections and team decisions, but now he had to get authorization for every single thing. I think he simply preferred not to be anyone’s employee. When you are used to having full autonomy and suddenly that privilege is taken away, it’s not easy.”

Helmut Marko’s exit comes at a moment when Red Bull is entering a new era with its first in-house power unit, a project that has been years in the making. The team faces a challenging season ahead, and the absence of both Christian Horner and Helmut Marko from the operational forefront reflects the significant organizational changes taking place in Milton Keynes. Juan Pablo Montoya’s observations highlight that the shift in internal authority and decision-making may have been a key factor in the Austrian advisor’s decision to step down.

For Red Bull, the departure of such a long-standing figure marks a new chapter. While the team continues to focus on technical development and driver management, the power dynamics within the leadership have clearly changed. Montoya’s comments suggest that what was once a position of influence and control has been significantly reduced, altering the environment for senior personnel who were previously accustomed to high levels of autonomy.

As Red Bull prepares to debut its new power unit in 2026, the Milton Keynes team will face both the technical challenge of launching a fully in-house engine and the strategic challenge of adapting to a leadership structure without Marko’s long-standing influence. The move underscores the delicate balance of power, autonomy, and decision-making in Formula 1 teams, where even veteran figures may choose to step aside when their authority is diminished.