The drama surrounding Red Bull continues as motorsport advisor Helmut Marko is now believed to be under investigation for potential media leaks, according to reports.
The new twist in the Red Bull saga involving team boss Christian Horner comes just a day after it was announced that the female employee of Red Bull Racing at the center of the allegations against Horner had been suspended.
According to a report from Motorsport.com, Marko is the subject of a second internal investigation ordered by Red Bull GmbH centered on leaks related to the initial probe into Horner's conduct.
It remains unclear if Marko violated any team protocols, but if the investigation finds him culpable of releasing confidential information, disciplinary action could follow.
Marko's situation obviously adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing controversy.
And the latest development might suggest that the battle lines at Red Bull are becoming increasingly clear - with Horner versus Marko/Verstappen.
Speaking to Austrian broadcaster ORF in Saudi Arabia, Marko himself acknowledged the possibility of missing the next race in Australia, hinting at the potential seriousness of the repercussions.
“I'll put it this way, it's difficult to judge, or let's put it this way, ultimately, I'll decide for myself what I do. The theoretical possibility always exists,” Marko said.
“I think it's such a complex issue. Again, we want peace in the team. This world championship will be difficult enough with 24 races and we have to concentrate on that.”
Marko also revealed an additional complication, that Red Bull’s engine partner Honda seeking clarification on the situation.
“That's internal, but they want a clear statement about what really happened,” added the 80-year-old Red Bull motorsport advisor.
“But the most important thing is that we get back to the sporting side of things, and that the team concentrates on what is important. That's working quite well at the moment.”
The investigation into Marko throws a wrench into Red Bull's already precarious situation. It has been reported that Max Verstappen’s contract with Red Bull may include a special clause that would allow the Dutchman to leave the team in the event of the departure of certain high-profile members of the outfit, such as Horner or Marko.
“Max is certainly the strongest asset that the team has,” Marko said. “There is no faster driver at the moment and if we were to lose him, it would be an incredible loss, because of course there are also an incredible number of mechanics, including engineers, who are all working incredibly hard for Max.
“I think it's quite logical and clear that Max is the most important part of the team.”
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