Marko on reasons for Red Bull's struggles: 'People looked up to Mateschitz'
Red Bull Contentpool
F1 News
In recent months, several leading figures across many areas of Red Bull Racing have announced their departure from the team. According to Helmut Marko, Red Bull's advisor, this is a natural part of working for such a successful team. In response to these personnel changes, the team are looking to train new employees as replacements and Marko shares how this could be a reason for the team's recent drop in performance.
"There were a few personnel departures," Marko said in a conversation with Motorsport-Magazin. "Mostly Adrian Newey,he is someone who’s 'outstanding’ and who’s unique in the world, there were also a few others, but that all is due to success."
The high calibre of the names who are leaving the team has put Red Bull into a difficult situation, but Marko sees this as a natural part of the sport. "In Formula One, it’s very usual that you try to take good personnel from the team that’s successful. But it’s of course the sum of the people and the celebrity status of the names, that hurts."
Red Bull staff yet to be trained
The team has identified some replacements, but it needs time to train staff for these positions. "They were very experienced people, but as said, we are broadly positioned, but now we do need some time, to fill these positions and the people that are new with us, need a certain amount of time to get used to us, and maybe that’s a reason to take the wrong direction, with our updates, because at the moment, we don’t have a winning car," Marko told reporters.
The Red Bull advisor gave further reasons for the departure of crucial personnel. "It was also with (Dietrich) Mateschitz, when he walked into a room, everything went quiet, without him we lost a leading position, people looked up to him. But yes also the new structures in our team."
"Also when you can’t give your people the chance the opportunity for advancement," he continued. "In many cases we couldn’t give them what other gave them financially, that was the case with Rob Marshall, some got double or even more in their salaries."
This article has been created in collaboration with Sandy van Wijngaarden.
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