Helmut Marko has revealed the one part of his Red Bull exit that really annoyed him.
Following the end of a dramatic Formula One campaign, the 2025 season had one last twist as long-serving Red Bull senior Marko confirmed he was leaving the team.
The 82-year-old had one year left on his current contract but will leave after 21 years together and a total of six decades working in motorsports.
Throughout his time working in Formula One, Marko made a name for himself for being outspoken and brutally honest in the media, sometimes landing himself in trouble for doing so.
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But it appears that he intends to continue doing so following his Red Bull exit, as he's spoken out about the one part of his departure that has frustrated him.
According to a team press release, Max Verstappen missing out on a fifth consecutive Drivers' Championship is a major reason why Marko has decided to retire at the end of this year.
Speaking to Dutch outlet Telegraaf, Marko revealed that this wasn't really the case, admitting that he hadn't even read the Red Bull statement, while opening up about the details of his departure from the F1 team.
Although Marko largely spoke well about his retirement, he admitted to the outlet that he was really annoyed that he never got the chance to tell star driver Verstappen about his plans to retire in person.
"Did you know I also had to inform Max of my decision by phone?" Marko asked in the interview.
"Because we were still fully fighting for the championship, I decided to wait. I didn't want to bother Max with it.
"We were all supposed to have a dinner together in Dubai on Monday, which Max would also be attending. I wanted to tell him myself, but logistical circumstances forced Verstappen to cancel. So I called him as soon as I got home."
Telegraaf added: "It's something Marko is really annoyed about. He would have much preferred to tell his protégé face to face."
Of course, Marko is likely not annoyed at Verstappen specifically for cancelling on the dinner and is instead just frustrated that he missed out on telling the four-time champion the big news in person.
Back in 2015, Marko had convinced Red Bull to sign Verstappen, fast-tracking him to Formula 1 with just one year in Formula 3, becoming driver in the sport's history at 17 years old.
Having won four championships together, the pair remained a close relationship for the entirety of their time in F1 together, and Verstappen will no doubt miss his presence at the team going forward.
Topics: Helmut Marko, Formula 1, Max Verstappen, Motorsport, Red Bull Racing
Ben McCrum