Helmut Marko, a mentor and major ally of four-time Formula One world champion Max Verstappen, is leaving the Red Bull team after 20 years as motorsports consultant to the energy drink brand.

The 82-year-old Austrian, an F1 driver in the 1970s and close confidant to the team’s founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who died in 2022, also headed the Red Bull junior program.

In that role he helped bring 20 drivers into F1, including champions Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen.

"It is very sad news that Helmut is leaving us," Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies said in a statement on X. "He has been such an integral part of our team and of Red Bull’s entire motor racing programme for more than two decades."

Marko suggested in a separate statement that Verstappen missing out on a fifth successive title had been a reason for his exit.

"Narrowly missing out on the world championship this season has moved me deeply and made it clear to me that now is the right moment for me personally to end this very long, intense and successful chapter," he said.

Verstappen thanked Marko in a social media post: "We’ve achieved everything we ever dreamed of together," he said. "I’m forever grateful for your belief in me."

Red Bull’s CEO of Corporate Projects and Investments Oliver Mintzlaff said Marko had approached him expressing a wish to end his role at the end of the year.

"I deeply regret his decision, as he has been an influential figure for more than two decades, and his departure marks the end of an extraordinary era," he said.

"He played a decisive role in all key strategic decisions that made Red Bull Racing what it is today: a multiple world champion, an engine of innovation, and a cornerstone of international motorsport."

Mintzlaff said he had respected Marko’s wishes after "a long and intensive conversation."

"Even though his departure will leave a significant gap, our respect for his decision and our gratitude for everything he has done for Red Bull Racing outweigh it," he added.

Media reports suggested relations had become strained between Marko and the team’s corporate owners.

Marko was the last man standing of a top trio that ran the team during a dominant period in its history.

Team boss Christian Horner was ousted in July and design supremo Adrian Newey departed last year and is now working for Aston Martin, where he is set to become team principal in 2026.

While Verstappen has a contract to 2028, there are known exit clauses and Red Bull is embarking on a new era in 2026 as the manufacturer of its own power units with Ford. The team’s previous engine supplier, Honda, will begin an exclusive partnership with Aston Martin next season.

Marko has long had a reputation as a loose cannon, making controversial comments and statements that needed to be taken back.

He made derogatory comments in 2023 about the character of Sergio Perez when the Mexican was driving for Red Bull, for which he had to apologize.

Last year, McLaren boss Zak Brown accused Marko of poor taste and setting Formula One back decades for comments about the mental resilience of then-title contender Lando Norris.

More recently, the Austrian accused Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli of moving aside for Norris in Qatar this month in the battle for fourth place. Norris won the title in Abu Dhabi last Sunday by two points.

Antonelli received abuse and death threats on social media and Red Bull had to issue a statement distancing the team from the assertion.