Ralf Schumacher believes Red Bull's off-track troubles stem from a failed deal with Porsche, which left a power vacuum after the death of Dietrich Mateschitz.
On Friday night, Red Bull was once again in the headlines in Saudi Arabia as the team's parent company opened a new internal investigation, this time regarding Helmut Marko.
“It’s someone in the middle that’s causing everything here…”
Marko is now in the hot seat, just over a week after team principal Christian Horner was cleared of wrongdoing by Red Bull.
PlanetF1.com believes that this investigation is related to various leaks made to the media since the beginning of the Christian Horner investigation, including leaks of emails purporting to contain relevant information. I understand that you are
Schumacher, a former F1 driver turned pundit, will pay for the power vacuum created when Mateschitz passes away in 2022, just one month after Porsche's plan to buy 50% of the F1 team collapsed. I think Red Bull is paying for it.
“Who could have predicted such a dynamic development?” he told Sky Deutschland.
“We have to go back a little bit more. I understand who was expecting it, but unfortunately they are no longer with us. That's why Mr. Mateschitz saw such a development coming and said that Porsche was planning to invest as a 50% shareholder.
“In that case, I think Dr. Helmut Marko is frustrated himself, because he was there and could have done it that way. Then the current situation wouldn't exist. .
“Since then, everything has drifted apart a little bit.
“I don't want to be in the team's position if Max's father Jos suddenly can't come and Dr. Marco can't come either. I think that's wrong and I think it's time for all parties to come together. .
“There's someone in the middle (Christian Horner, Sky Germany editor's note) who's causing everything here because he wants to do everything in his power to keep everything under control. Whether it helps or not. No one knows.”
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“Why are they pushing this so hard?”
However, Red Bull have been warned that any action against Marko could have major repercussions as triple world champion Verstappen has linked Marko's future with his team.
“For me, Helmut is a very important element in that respect and definitely he has to stay for me,” he told Sky Sports on Friday night. “I've always told the team that, they know it.”
The 26-year-old has been widely rumored to take Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes race seat in recent days, with Schumacher speaking out about a release clause in Verstappen's contract that would allow him to walk if Marko leaves Red Bull. was.
“Yes, that's true. That's what I heard and the sources are good,” the German said.
“I don't know if Verstappen is doing it. I think everyone is cutting into their flesh here. You can see what's going on here.
“But it's far worse for all the employees who support it, and for the Red Bull brand.
“I just don't understand what the Thai side and Christian Horner are saying in this case. Why are they pushing this with all their might? 'What do we owe Didi Mateschitz? ”
“The fact that we're reacting this way right now is wrong in my opinion.”
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