Marko acknowledges that the turmoil at Red Bull impacted Verstappen's championship.

      "I accept some responsibility for that."

      Dr. Helmut Marko has acknowledged a portion of the responsibility for Max Verstappen's failure to secure a fifth consecutive world championship, recognizing that Red Bull did not provide sufficient support amid internal turmoil. "Max had another outstanding season this year, perhaps his best," the 82-year-old stated in an interview with Munich Merkur. "It wasn’t his fault; it was ours. We didn’t give him a car that was consistently competitive. I accept some responsibility for that, and that’s why I wanted to step down now."

      Marko also distanced himself from the ousted former team principal Christian Horner, emphasizing that his departure was amicable at the board level. "I didn’t want to travel anymore; the timing felt appropriate," he explained. "They wanted me to fulfill my contract, which was in effect until the end of 2026, but they expressed understanding. Contrary to some reports, we parted on very good terms."

      However, Ralf Schumacher commented that the damage had already been done. "The team was a mess. It fell apart," he remarked. "It was evident that there were two factions." Schumacher also pointed out that Marko’s influence had been gradually diminished. "Helmut has often mentioned that it is no longer enjoyable for him when he can no longer make decisions like before," he clarified. "When your ideas are consistently overlooked, the feeling of being truly needed fades away."

      While Sport Bild indicates that Marko’s overarching role will not be officially replaced, Austrian media suggest that Red Bull did offer him a reduced position concentrating solely on the driver academy—an offer he turned down. This program, which produced Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen and aided 15 drivers in reaching Formula 1, is expected to undergo changes.

      Schumacher believes a successor is already in the works. "It’s going to be a significant surprise," he stated, explicitly excluding Vettel. "It’s not Sebastian Vettel." He concluded that Red Bull will feel the gap left by Marko. "There is undoubtedly a void," he noted, "especially in the junior program. Red Bull remains strong and successful," Schumacher added, "but without Helmut Marko, it will never be quite the same."