Helmut Marko has shed light on the significant evolution of Red Bull’s management structure, nearly two years after the passing of its co-founder, Dietrich Mateschitz.
The late Austrian entrepreneur left behind a global sporting empire that included not only its dominant Formula 1 team but also ventures in soccer, cycling, and extreme sports.
In the wake of Mateschitz’s death, the company’s leadership has been reshaped to distribute responsibilities across multiple figures, marking a shift from the swift, decisive management style of its former leader.
Mateschitz had been an autocratic figure, known for making quick, bold decisions that reflected his visionary mindset and willingness to take risks.
Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor and longtime confidant of Mateschitz, reflected on this shift in an interview with ORF.
"The death of Dietrich Mateschitz has of course brought changes," Marko explained. "He was an autocrat, decisions were made quickly. He was a charismatic entrepreneur with a certain vision and someone who was willing to take risks.
"Now everything within the organisation is being rearranged, where it is not possible to find such a personality as Mateschitz. As a result, he also cannot be replaced by just one person.”
Following Mateschitz’s death, Oliver Mintzlaff was appointed as the new managing director of the Red Bull organization, overseeing a broad range of its sports operations, including Formula 1.
Despite Mintzlaff’s significant role, Marko emphasized that the operational control of Red Bull Racing remains firmly in the hands of Christian Horner who has led the team to remarkable success over the years.
"In terms of structure, Oliver Mintzlaff is responsible for Formula 1, amongst other things,” commented Marko. “He also does soccer, cycling and various other things.
“Operationally, Christian Horner is responsible. I would say that the final details have not been finalised yet either, because the system is growing."
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The discord that erupted at Red Bull earlier this year in the wake of the accusations of improper conduct leveled at Horner has been well chronicled.
The controversy fueled a dissension within the team, with Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, predicting a disruption of the team’s internal dynamics if Horner remained at the helm, and raising concerns about how Red Bull would continue its winning streak.
Marko admitted that Jos Verstappen’s remarks were not helpful to the team’s unity at such a critical time.
"Let's put it this way, it didn't help," he stated. "But internally we sat down together and said, 'We have to join forces and work together in all areas so we can win this world championship'.
"And also for the future, so that we have a winning car again.”
Beyond the immediate season, there’s also the matter of retaining Max Verstappen who could potentially look elsewhere if he no longer finds Red Bull’s car competitive.
Marko acknowledged this possibility, noting that Red Bull needs to continually provide Verstappen with a car capable of winning races to prevent him from considering other options.
“Because it's also clear that if we don't give Max Verstappen a car he can win with, then in the long run all those contracts of top drivers have performance-related exit clauses and Max will then start looking at others, provided he's still having fun,” he said.
"That's another factor that comes into play. He will drive where the best package is always on offer."
As Red Bull enters a new chapter, its management is working to balance continuity with adaptation, ensuring that the team’s success endures even without the singular vision of Dietrich Mateschitz.
While decisions around the structure of the Formula 1 team and its future direction remain in flux, the focus remains clear: keep winning, and keep Max Verstappen at the heart of the operation.
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