Helmut Marko calls for 'truce' with Christian Horner after Red Bull knocked down a peg

Helmut Marko has revealed that he has made a ‘truce’ with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner amid an ongoing power struggle inside the reigning champions’ camp. The Milton Keynes-based outfit are at risk of losing out to Ferrari and McLaren in both championships if their current trajectory continues.

Since the death of founder Dietrich Mateschitz, Marko and Horner have been wrapped up in an internal tussle for power, with the former holding support from the Red Bull company’s Austrian contingent, and the latter boasting the backing of Chalerm Yoovidhya, the leader of the Thai division.

Both men are said to want more power and influence over the team with Horner hoping to gain control of not just the Red Bull outfit, but their sister squad VCARB. Previously, Marko has held a tight grip over the Faenza-based organisation, playing a major role in dictating their line-ups and moves in the driver market.

However, Red Bull’s recent on-track performances have made Marko and Horner put their differences aside. The reigning champions won four of the first five races of the year through Max Verstappen with only a mechanical DNF in Melbourne preventing a clean sweep. However, in the most recent three, they have just one win to their name.

Explaining the current dynamic, Marko told Kleine Zeitung: “We have made a truce. We will have to join forces. Even if we are no longer superior, we want to win. But we definitely need to make the most of it and look towards the world title."

The Red Bull camp is expecting another tough outing at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve this weekend too. Bumpy street circuits have proven to be the Achilles heel of the RB20 and given the nature of Montreal’s track, Ferrari and McLaren could have the upper hand when the lights go out on Sunday.

Verstappen confirmed these fears himself, explaining: “We have to wait and see, new surface as well I think, that might also give us some surprises. But it is probably also not going to be our strongest weekend because of that. But probably a little bit better than [Monaco].

"[We struggle] any track that is bumpy or has kerbs, or you have to ride a lot of kerbs, so the street circuits will probably be a little bit tricky. But hopefully, by then we have a little bit of understanding of what is going on."