Red Bull appoint Helmut Marko replacement as Max Verstappen future decided

Red Bull have named Alistair David Rew as a new director, with the 52-year-old appointed on the same day Helmut Marko relinquished his status as a director. Marko announced his decision to leave Red Bull earlier this month as the 82-year-old released an emotional statement.

Marko joined the Red Bull F1 team in 2004 and was instrumental in the team’s rise to the top of the sport. The Austrian oversaw Red Bull’s junior programme and also worked as the team’s motorsport advisor. He helped nurture the talents of Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen but decided to head through the exit after Lando Norris clinched the 2025 world title.

Rew was officially appointed as a Red Bull Racing director on Friday and joins the board alongside the company’s only other serving director Laurent Mekies.

And Rew, Mekies and the rest of their colleagues will be desperate for Red Bull to return to the top of the F1 standings next season following a difficult campaign this time round.

The Milton Keynes-based outfit appeared to be well behind McLaren in the pecking order during the first-half of the season, with Verstappen falling more than 100 points adrift of then-leader Oscar Piastri.

But the Dutchman dominated his rivals during the latter stages of the season and ultimately missed out on the title to Norris by just two points.

With a number of regulation changes coming into play next year, Verstappen will be eyeing his fifth world title after winning four in a row between 2021 and 2024.

And Red Bull chief Mekies cleared up any remaining doubts around Verstappen’s future during an interview with De Telegraaf after the 28-year-old was linked with a move to Mercedes earlier this year.

“The most important thing for an athlete is that he sees that everyone in the team is giving their all for him,” Mintzlaff stated.

“And I think Max is impressed with the way the results and the atmosphere in the team have turned out this year. Of course, Max always wants to win and have the best possible car, but so do we.

“As long as Max feels that we are working on that and doing everything we can, I think he will remain loyal to us. He also sees how much we have invested in our own engine.

“Don’t forget that we are an energy drink brand and what a unique step this is. I feel that there is enormous mutual appreciation and loyalty. For me, there is no doubt that Max Verstappen will end his career at Red Bull.”