During the weekend of the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah, it was revealed that Marko was being investigated as the potential source of leaked information regarding the investigation into Horner. Horner had been accused of misconduct by a female colleague. Red Bull conducted an internal investigation and cleared Horner of the allegations. However, soon after, texts and photos supposedly related to the evidence were leaked to nearly 150 individuals associated with Formula 1, including teams, media, FIA, and Formula One Management.
This series of events caused turmoil within Red Bull Racing and led to Jos Verstappen, Max Verstappen’s father, calling for Horner to step down. Jos threatened that his son would leave the team if Horner remained. The situation seemed to calm down when it was announced that the complainant against Horner had been suspended. However, new information emerged regarding Marko’s involvement and a potential suspension as a result. Verstappen warned that this would make him reconsider his future with the team.
Fortunately, this chapter of the story was short-lived as Marko announced on the day of the race in Jeddah that he would continue in his role after discussions with Red Bull GmbH managing director Oliver Mintzlaff. Prior to the race, Marko, who had been cleared of any wrongdoing, dismissed the entire situation as “absolute rubbish.” He claimed to have no knowledge of the Horner report or the leaked material, stating that he intentionally stayed out of it. Marko perceived the association with the incident as a calculated move, likening it to a “cunning” operation, as the late Niki Lauda would say.
Horner affirmed that the Marko situation had no connection to him or the Red Bull racing team. He stated, “The team was just as surprised as anyone else to hear the rumors about suspension. This was an issue between Red Bull GmbH and Helmut, who is a contractor for them. We were not involved in the discussion.”
Horner has had a long-standing relationship with Helmut, dating back to 1996. He acknowledged Helmut’s significant role over the years and his continued passion for Formula 1, despite being almost 81 years old.
When questioned about whether Verstappen’s threats to leave the team influenced the decision regarding Marko, Horner denied any involvement in such decision-making. He expressed uncertainty about the origin of the rumors and emphasized that his relationship with Helmut is not problematic.
According to Horner, every individual in the team has a crucial role to play, contributing to their long-standing success. He concluded by stating that the team’s achievements have been a key factor in their triumphs.
While Horner has hinted that Verstappen’s departure would not be catastrophic for Red Bull Racing, the recent developments within the reigning F1 World Champions team have raised more questions than answers.
Perhaps in the future, when those involved share their memoirs, the truth behind these events will finally be revealed. Or maybe it will forever remain a mystery.