Helmut Marko Accuses Christian Horner of Lying and 'Dirty Games' in Explosive Interview

In a stunning public attack, former Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has accused ex-team principal Christian Horner of lying, playing "dirty games," and attempting to seize control of the team following founder Dietrich Mateschitz's death. Marko's comments reveal deep-seated internal conflict that persisted for years at the pinnacle of the championship-winning team.

Why it matters:

This interview pulls back the curtain on the intense power struggles that have simmered within Red Bull Racing for years, suggesting that the public controversies were merely symptoms of a much deeper internal rift. Marko's allegations, if accurate, paint a picture of a deliberate campaign by Horner to consolidate power, fundamentally challenging the narrative of a unified leadership that propelled the team to multiple championships.

The details:

• Marko claims Horner began "cosying up" to Thai majority shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya in mid-2022, after privately predicting Mateschitz would not "make it to the end of the year" at a party before the Austrian Grand Prix.
• Following Mateschitz's death later that year, Marko alleges Horner "did everything he could to take over with Yoovidhya's support," while Marko acted on behalf of "Austria" to prevent it.
• The Austrian advisor described the final years with Horner as "not pleasant," citing "dirty games being played."
  • He specifically alleges that inflammatory remarks attributed to him—including comments about Sergio Perez's focus and false rumors about 2024 engine delays causing a sponsor loss—were fabrications potentially orchestrated by Horner's camp to undermine him.
• Marko states that Horner's eventual loss of Yoovidhya's support in mid-2025 came only after "we were increasingly able to prove that Horner was lying about all sorts of things."
• He dismissed Red Bull GmbH's press release on his departure as "full of nonsense," revealing he had to urgently call Max Verstappen to inform him, indicating he had little control over the announcement's timing.

The big picture:

Marko's account frames the recent high-profile departures of both himself and Horner not as isolated events, but as the culmination of a prolonged structural battle for the soul of Red Bull Racing. It highlights the fragile balance of power between the Austrian founding faction, represented by Mateschitz and Marko, and the UK-based operational leadership under Horner—a balance that was shattered by the founder's death. The interview also underscores Max Verstappen's significant influence, as his intervention in Jeddah in 2024 reportedly prevented Marko's suspension.

What's next:

With both central figures of Red Bull's modern era now gone, the team enters a new chapter under CEO Oliver Mintzlaff and team principal Laurent Mekies. The lasting impact of this feud will be measured by the team's ability to maintain its competitive dominance without its long-term architects and whether the internal culture can stabilize. For Horner and Marko, their legacies are now inextricably linked to this public airing of grievances, shaping how their monumental successes are remembered.