Horner: Verstappen and Marko have role to play at Red Bull

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has insisted the team will not act solely on Max Verstappen's opinions when making crucial decisions in F1.

Verstappen has started his quest for a fourth consecutive Drivers' title in perfect fashion with two wins from two races despite off-track dramas surrounding the Milton Keynes-based team.

With Horner embroiled in allegations of inappropriate behaviour - a story which looks set to continue across the Australian Grand Prix weekend - motorsport advisor Helmut Marko suggested in Saudi Arabia he would himself be suspended, only for those fears to be expelled a day later in Jeddah.

Verstappen launched into a staunch defence of the Austrian which was in stark contrast to how he responded to similar concerns surrounding his team principal and asked how much the Dutchman had a sway in team decision making, Horner told media including RacingNews365: "We have a very good relationship with Max and we listen to whatever Max has to say.

"But the team will always make the right decisions for the team, whether that's strategically, whether that's in a race, whether that's for the future, whether that's on an engine choice, a sponsorship choice.

"The team will always do what is right for the team.

"There was no known decision-making process around Helmut so I am not quite sure where the rumour permeated from. It's not something I've been involved in."

'Everyone has a role to play'

Speculation over Marko's future was put to rest after he arrived at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix alongside Red Bull GmbH managing director Oliver Mintzlaff.

On what Marko offered Red Bull moving forward, Horner insisted: "Everybody has a role to play, whatever that role is.

"This team has been incredibly successful and has had tremendous stability for a long period of time and that has been one of the keys to our success.

"Helmut is a consultant, an advisor, to Red Bull and of course the young driver programme is clearly under his control."