After one other weekend of excessive drama on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix amid the facility battle happening inside Crimson Bull, it emerged that Marko’s place on the squad might be beneath risk.
He revealed forward of qualifying that there was an opportunity he might be suspended following the occasion, amid allegations that he had been concerned in leaks to the media relating to the investigation surrounding Horner’s behaviour.
However following talks with Crimson Bull managing director Oliver Mintzlaff on the morning of the race in Jeddah, it was made clear that Marko had not been concerned in any illicit behaviour and could be persevering with.
Talking shortly earlier than the race to Austrian broadcaster ORF, Marko hit out at claims he had been part of the leaks – as he hinted that the best way issues performed out in Saudi Arabia was a deliberate effort to convey him down.
Requested concerning the accusation of being a leak, Marko mentioned: “Absolute garbage. I am actually pleased when I’ve my iPhone midway beneath management.
“I have not seen this report or any of those chats. I intentionally stayed out of it. To affiliate me with it was nearly like a deliberate operation, as I realised. ‘Crafty’, as [Niki] Lauda would say.”
Helmut Marko, Marketing consultant, Crimson Bull Racing
Photograph by: Michael Potts / Motorsport Photographs
It’s unclear who Marko feels was shifting in opposition to him to stir hassle up, however Horner has insisted that the occasions that came about behind the scenes in Saudi Arabia have been nothing to do with him nor the F1 squad.
“I feel the hearsay about suspension was as information to the crew because it was to anyone else,” defined Horner. “We have been fairly shocked to listen to that.
“Helmut is a contractor to Crimson Bull GmbH, so it was a problem between them. We weren’t celebration or a part of that dialogue.
“I’ve identified Helmut since 1996, and he is performed an necessary position through the years. That position has developed through the years. I’ve identified him a really, very very long time.
“Coming as much as 81 years of age, he is nonetheless clearly motivated about Formulation 1, which is a optimistic factor.”
The developments in Saudi Arabia have been fascinating as a result of Marko’s threat of his exit prompted a robust line of defence from Max Verstappen, who mentioned he could be unlikely to remain on the crew if his ally departed.
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, 1st place, Sergio Perez, Crimson Bull Racing, 2nd place, with Helmut Marko, Marketing consultant, Crimson Bull Racing and Christian Horner, Workforce Principal, Crimson Bull Racing
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photographs
Requested if Verstappen’s backing influenced Crimson Bull’s determination, Horner mentioned: “There was no decision-making course of round Helmut, so I’m not fairly positive the place the hearsay has permeated from. However it isn’t one thing I’ve been concerned in.”
Whereas Marko and Horner don’t agree on all the pieces, the pair do convey contrasting strengths to the Crimson Bull crew which have helped make it so robust.
Horner didn’t foresee any difficulty with Marko remaining in place, regardless of the difficulties of the present state of affairs.
“My relationship with Helmut is not any difficulty. I feel that he is all the time outspoken, however that is Helmut,” added Horner.
“All people has a task to play it doesn’t matter what that position is. I feel this crew has been extremely profitable, and it has had super capacity for a protracted time frame. That has been one of many keys to our success.”
