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Helmut Marko gives new theory behind Adrian Newey’s Red Bull exit

Adrian Newey‘s shocking exit from Red Bull had raised multiple questions about the actual reason for the move. Newey was thought to retire from the sport overall but then deemed a late-career move to Aston Martin in 2025. Hence amidst the ongoing situation, Helmut Marko gave another theory explaining the aero-genius’ reasons for leaving.

Helmut Marko believed that the underlying reason behind Adrian Newey‘s exit from the team dated back to 2022. Dietrich Mateschitz‘s death caused a massive shift in Red Bull’s structure and caused multiple problems. Marko noted that everything was organized differently following the Austrian’s death.

Everything in the company had to be organised differently, because you don’t find such an individual personality anymore and he can’t be replaced by one person.

Helmut Marko told ORF

Adrian Newey felt the effect of this change in the team’s leadership to be more problematic than others. Hence, all these factors attributed to the aero-genius’ ultimate decision to leave the team completely. As a result, Red Bull will have to work hard on chassis development in the coming season to compensate for Newey’s absence.

Especially in the case of Newey, I think that’s why he decided to look for a new challenge.

Helmut Marko added

Red Bull couldn’t retain employees due to ‘double pay’ offered by rival teams

The rival teams are very eager to get their hands on the crew members of the winningest teams on the grid. As a result, multiple rival teams were ready to offer twice or thrice the amount of salary to the current Red Bull employees. Hence, Helmut Marko revealed that this was another reason for multiple key figures leaving the team in recent times.

We always struggle with the cost cap, but these employees are often offered double or more by other teams. As a result, we could not keep some of them.

Helmut Marko noted

Adrian Newey, Max Verstappen and Helmut Marko (via IMAGO)
Adrian Newey, Max Verstappen and Helmut Marko (via IMAGO)

Red Bull has continued to work hard on their dwindling pace in the 2024 season in hopes of improvement in performance. The team has already lost the lead in the constructors’ championship this season and might not be able to contend for it. Max Verstappen is still fending off Lando Norris with the gap between the two being only of 52 points.