Marko and Wolff reveal trigger of closer relationship

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff have revealed that their relationship has gotten closer since the tragic passing of Dietrich Mateschitz. 

The Red Bull co-founder sadly died in October 2022, on the same weekend as the United States Grand Prix. 

Mateschitz was a leading Austrian entrepreneurial figure, the home nation of both Marko and Wolff. 

The pair’s relationship has been tested, in particular in 2021 when Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen battled for the title.

Of course, the controversial conclusion of that season resulted in very different emotions for Marko and Wolff; however, the former has insisted that the pair moved past that.

“Look at the year 2021,” Marko said in an interview alongside Wolff with ORF. “That was the toughest season ever, both athletically and mentally and everything bordering on that. 

“The outcome satisfied us very much, but Mercedes of course in no way. And that brings emotions.

“We are full of passion for this sport and that brings a lot, but we are also mature enough to have learned how to deal with loss and how to learn to live with it. That fact actually brings us closer together as people.”

2021 was extremely tough for Mercedes, and took a huge toll on Wolff. The Silver Arrows boss required time for healing, yet has grown closer now to Marko. 

The pair have stuck to their Austrian roots, and opted to stick together following Mateschitz’s death. 

Despite Red Bull and Mercedes being fierce rivals, Wolff has huge amounts of respect for Marko and what he has achieved.

“At the end of the day, we’re both like, ‘we’re a small group of Austrians with great mutual respect.’ But when you’re rivals and trying to win with all available weapons, it’s hard to grow closer together,” said Wolff.

“2021 came along and that was tough. That was very, very tough. You only have your own perspective in mind and not the other person’s. 

“But since then we have been finding each other again a bit in our being Austrian. I have staggering respect for Helmut for what he has achieved as a driver, but also as a leader of Red Bull. 

“And the death of Dietrich Mateschitz has also brought us closer together, despite the rivalry. Dietrich was a great entrepreneur and Austrians will always stick together.

“The fundamental respect has always been there, but sometimes in doing so we take off the gloves to fight with our bare hands. And also next year we will stand side by side in that way.”

Marko interjected: “We have stood that way since 2013.”