Red Bull 'tension' theory suggested following latest F1 team shake-up

Former Alpine executive director Marcin Budkowski has provided a theory on Helmut Marko's exit from Red Bull.

Marko announced his departure from the energy drink organisation just a handful of days after the F1 season came to a close in Abu Dhabi.

The Austrian's conclusion with Red bull brings an end to his 20-year stint with the team, in which he acted as an advisor and oversaw the recruitment of drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.

Marko's departure from the squad followed other major exits this year, including technical maestro Adrian Newey and team principal Christian Horner.

Speaking on the RacingNews365 podcast, Budkowski suggested the installation of a new management structure naturally led to Marko ending his association.

“It’s pure intuition on my side, but that relationship between the new management at Red Bull, [Oliver] Mintzlaff and Helmut has been tense,” Budkowski said.

“Helmut has been part of the team for the last few years, for some reasons which are partly related to the support from the Verstappens.

“My reading of it is that it got to a point where that tension was too strong. 

“There were too many differences of opinion. Mintzlaff and the Austrian side is willing to take more power and certainly more authority decisions.

“It got to a point where probably the Austrians and Mintzlaff didn't really want to have Helmut around, and Helmut didn't really want to work in that way.”

Marko has also played a key role in the driver line-up decisions at the team in recent years.

Budkowski suggested that taking away such responsibilities from Marko would have left the Austrian in an uncomfortable environment to work. 

“Helmut is very binary, and he needs to have full freedom and full decision-making power to be happy in his role. I don't think it was the case.

“So it's possible that he decided to go, it's possible that he was pushed - but in any case, I think it got to the point where that relationship wasn't satisfying for either side.”