Helmut Marko: "Top people tied to Red Bull until 2020"

Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko Thinks that Red Bull will be able to mount a challenge to Mercedes next season.

After overhauling Ferrari as Formula One's second-best team this season, Marko belives Red Bull will be able to challenge for the title next year.


"It is crucial that for next year Renault brings a completely new engine with the same performance as Mercedes," he told Bild am Sonntag newspaper. "Since our chassis is normally the best in formula one, we will be well positioned," Marko added.

With Red Bull's resurgence in full force, other teams in the paddock are again attempting to poach staff from the Milton Keynes-based team, but Marko admits that this is normal.

"Of course, it's always like that," said Marko. "Also from Mercedes. Or do you think that Niki Lauda dropping by on our Adrian Newey is by chance?

"But we have our top people tied to Red Bull until 2020," he insisted.

"Top people" includes both engineering staff and driver, with Red Bull looking to the future with their young driver lineup.

"With the long-term contracts of our drivers we wanted to say 'Hello, you can't graze with us.' We are well positioned for 2020.

"Ricciardo is now 27, Verstappen is 19 in September. By 2020 he will probably be at his best. One can only imagine what will happen by then," Marko added.

Marko insists that by having their drivers signed to long term deals, their rivals won't be poaching them any time soon.

"No. We recognised their problems and made long-term contracts with our people. We have taken away all of the games and speculation.

"Mercedes also has no chance to get our drivers. There are rumours that Hamilton says 'Screw you guys, now I'm an actor'. What do they do then?"

When asked about Mercedes junior Pascal Wehrlein and whether he believes the young German is the future of that team, Marko was less than complimentary.

"The course with Wehrlein, I believe, is incorrect," he said. "Toto Wolff saw what Red Bull does with its young drivers and believed he could do the same."

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Red Bull Racing
  • Points 3,420
  • Podiums 126
  • Grand Prix 232
  • Country NL
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (28)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), NL
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar