Marko returns: Red Bull veteran set for Austrian GP comeback

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After stepping away from the daily grind of Formula 1 at the end of 2025, former Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko is returning to the paddock, this time on his home turf.

The 82-year-old F1 veteran has confirmed a brand-new role as the ambassador for the Red Bull Ring, just in time for the Austrian Grand Prix on June 26-28.

Known for his blunt honesty and an uncanny eye for talent, Marko was the architect behind the success of F1 world champions Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, while helping shape the careers of Daniel Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz, Pierre Gasly, and many others.

Having been a fixture in the sport since Red Bull Racing burst onto the grid in 2005, Marko’s absence was certainly felt during the opening rounds of the 2026 campaign.

Now, instead of scouting the next superstar or making tough calls behind closed doors, the Austrian’s focus shifts to representing the very circuit that has become a staple of the F1 calendar – locked in until at least 2041.

Still an influence behind the scenes

Despite his official exit, Marko’s voice hasn’t faded inside Red Bull’s corridors. According to team boss Laurent Mekies, the Austrian remains a quiet but constant presence.

“Helmut has remained very open and available to us,” the Frenchman explained on a recent Beyond the Grid podcast.

“I am [talking to him], they are, I’m sure we are all having chats with him and getting guidance from him, even though you don’t see him turning up at the racetrack,” Mekies said.

“You can’t turn the page of Helmut that has been building this young driver programme for two decades with incredible success. You don’t turn that page quickly. So we are living on his legacy right now, and as I said, he’s behind the corners if we need him.”

That legacy will now have a new stage. When Formula 1 returns to Austria next summer, Marko won’t just be a name from the past – he’ll be part of the show once again, this time as the face of a circuit that helped define his era.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.