It is often suggested that Max Verstappen’s true loyalty to Red Bull lies in his connection to his 80-year-old mentor Dr Helmut Marko, who Toto Wolff believes can accompany Max to Mercedes F1.
Oliver Mintzlaff, the CEO of Red Bull present in Miami, wanted to reassure that he did not see a departure from his Austrian compatriot.
"I think that’s out of the question," insists Mintzlaff. “Helmut is closely linked to Red Bull and we owe him a lot. He also had the courage to give Max a Formula 1 cockpit at the age of 17.”
He also suggests that the turmoil around team boss Christian Horner now appears to be fading. He believes that calm is returning, which suggests that the Austrians have accepted what the Thais are imposing on them.
When asked if Red Bull can continue to be successful with Horner at the helm, Mintzlaff replied: “I’m convinced of that. He only cares about the success of the team and is a very good CEO.”
However, he let Adrian Newey go.
“Adrian has done great things here over the years and played a big role in our victories and 13 world championship titles.”
“It is obviously a shame that he is leaving us, but we discussed it in a very fair and respectful dialogue. What he leaves behind is not only a unique legacy but also a structure that he helped to create. build.”
“Of course we will miss him – also as a person – but tomorrow we will still be able to build a very fast Formula 1 car.”
Horner is overseeing Red Bull’s Formula 1 engine development in conjunction with Ford for 2026 and beyond, and Verstappen is rumored to be nervous that it won’t be competitive.
“We want to continue in 2026 where we are now: at the top of Formula 1. Of course, there are no guarantees, but even if we have proven that we can handle major rule changes, other teams have failed to close the gap with us for three years.”
“Max will have noticed this too and it makes me look to the future with complete optimism. We have been preparing for 2026 for a long time, and although building our own engine is a huge task and challenge, we are convinced that we can do it. master.”
“This is the next step in Red Bull’s development.”
