Helmut Marko addresses Sergio Pérez’s Red Bull future, and his own

In the wake of a spirited Formula 1 season, Red Bull senior advisor Dr. Helmut Marko is opening up about two big topics facing the team’s future.

The status of Sergio Pérez, and Marko’s own future with the team.

Red Bull stormed to a dominant Constructors’ Championship during the 2023 campaign, their second-straight title, but it was not all smooth sailing for the team. Inconsistency from Pérez, particularly a tough stretch of qualifying performances, opened up questions about the driver’s future with the team. Then there was the matter of Marko’s own future with the organization. Throughout the season there was speculation and rumors of a “power struggle” playing out a Red Bull, and while Marko and others brushed those aside, the murmuring persisted into the winter.

Earlier this month, Marko hinted at an upcoming meeting with the organization’s top brass. Now that meeting has been held, and Marko outlined that his future lies with the team. Speaking with Austrian outlet OE24, the Red Bull senior figure addressed his future.

“Yes, in a positive sense, everything is continuing as planned,” said Marko when asked about his future with Red Bull. Marko was under contract with the team through the 2024 season, much like Pérez.

Marko also addressed Pérez’s own future with the team, again leaving open the door to a change in status after the 2024 season. “As of now he will fulfill his contract until the end of 2024, then we’ll see.”

Pérez’s future with Red Bull has been a huge topic in recent months. That speculation kicked into overdrive when AlphaTauri, Red Bull’s sister team, sacked rookie driver Nyck de Vries early in the season, replacing him with veteran driver Daniel Ricciardo. But when Ricciardo suffered a hand injury, Liam Lawson stepped into his seat, and delivered more consistent performances than De Vries had during the season.

Earlier this year Marko indicated that Lawson should be in a full-time seat for the 2025 season, and he maintained that position when speaking with OE24.

“Yes, and before that he should at least drive a few more races so that we can see where his potential really lies,” said Marko about Lawson.

The storyline regarding Pérez’s future will likely continue well into 2024, and now with Marko back in the fold for a little while longer, we can expect the Red Bull advisor to be at the center of many such stories.