Helmut Marko has been laughed at and criticized so many times in his life. Also wrong, often by former Red Bull drivers he put on guard or by people who could not meet his expectations – such as engine supplier Renault. Sung to you? By the people who value his role for sure. Marko is the type ‘straightforward’. Someone who has his heart on the tongue. It produces beautiful quotes and stories and regular controversy.
Marko was often laughed at when it came to corona. The Red Bull advisor was a staunch supporter of racing in Australia. He did not hide his displeasure after the race was canceled. Marko even suggested the idea of infecting Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon with COVID-19. They are young and once you’ve had it, that’s behind you, right? Worldwide, ‘Doctor Marko’ made headlines with this thought.
The critical Marko also regularly lashed out at the way the world reacted to the corona virus. Panic according to him. Virtually all public life was restricted in many countries and the entrepreneur Marko had major problems with this. But what characterizes an entrepreneur is that he does not take it easy.
Soon after it was announced that the Australian Grand Prix was canceled and several other races died, Marko was clear: Austria is going to be the season opener. Whether Formula 1 wanted one, two, three or four races, Marko would take care of it. Yes, yes, Coronacriticaster Marko would take care of it for a moment, was said mockingly by his own critics.
As so often in his life, Marko didn’t care about the criticism. He worked with an entire team on the ambitious plan to actually bring the Grand Prix to Austria. At first without an audience, but if it were up to Marko even with an audience. And so it happened months later: Formula 1 starts with a unique double in Austria. The Red Bull Ring is the first home for the F1 bubble in which staff and drivers will be staying for the coming months.
Marko convinced everything and everyone that it was possible. Everything is done: hotels, flights, corona tests, a complete scenario for the worst case scenarios. Of course, it was not only Marko who drafted that, but Helmut is the great driver of the whole. The initiator, the motivator, the man who wants to push boundaries and goes off the beaten track.
The Red Bull Ring features the gigantic Red Bull logo, the bull. However, there is certainly still a place available for a beautiful statue of Helmut Marko. The man we all should be grateful that the first Grand Prix of 2020 will be held on July 5. Types like Marko and Niki Lauda are scarce. The duo, of which Lauda unfortunately left us last year, dare to go off the beaten track. With the heart in the right place, with love for the sport and with guts.
It is no coincidence that Marko, the then 16-year-old Max Verstappen contracted and had his first F1 meters made that year, nor that he threw Daniil Kvyat out to see Verstappen win at the age of 18. It is therefore by no means surprising that there is now an Austrian Grand Prix. We should cherish types like Marko, especially in these times when everything has to be politically correct and according to 101 protocols.
Helmut, thank you!
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