Helmut Marko secures Red Bull contract extension

Long-time Red Bull motorsports advisor Helmut Marko has signed a new three-year contract that will see him continue his involvement with the reigning Formula 1 champions through the 2027 season, F1News.live has learned.

Marko, 80, has been an integral part of Red Bull's F1 program since their arrival to the grid in 2005, having unearthed talents like Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel during almost two decades with the team.

His future with Red Bull had come into question following the October 2022 passing of company founder Dietrich Mateschitz.

However, a source close to the situation has confirmed to PlanetF1.com that Marko and new Red Bull GmbH ownership finalized a fresh three-year agreement in recent weeks.

Last month, Marko acknowledged to Austrian publication oe24 that his previous deal was set to conclude after 2024 and that talks over an extension were underway:

“There are different trends and variants. The decisions are still open – including what I will do next. My current contract runs until the end of 2024.”

He also reflected solemnly on how Red Bull's internal dynamic had shifted without Mateschitz and expressed regret that his late friend could not witness the outfit's astounding 2023 campaign where they won 21 of 22 Grands Prix.

Recent months had seen speculation about an alleged "power struggle" arising between Marko and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.

However, Horner firmly rejected such notions in an exclusive interview with PlanetF1.com in Abu Dhabi, citing his 27-year association with Marko.

“Helmut and I have known each other for 27 years. We’ve always had a very strong and open relationship. So, on that, nothing has changed," said Horner.

With his future now secured through 2027, Marko will look to further expand upon Red Bull's enormously successful 2021-23 era where they captured three straight drivers' and constructors' championship doubles.