Helmut Marko Explained

Helmut Marko
Nationality: Austrian
Birth Date:27 April 1943
Birth Place:Graz, German Reich (now Austria)
Years:
Team(S):BRM, non-works McLaren
Races:10 (9 starts)
Championships:0
Wins:0
Podiums:0
Points:0
Poles:0
Fastest Laps:0
First Race:1971 German Grand Prix

Helmut Marko (born 27 April 1943) is an Austrian former professional racing driver and a current director of the Red Bull Formula One teams, and head of Red Bull's driver development programme.[1]

Biography

Marko was born in Graz, Austria (then part of Nazi Germany). He was a school friend of Jochen Rindt,[2] who became Formula One world champion in 1970. Marko competed in several race series, including 10 Formula One Grands Prix in 1971 and 1972, but scored no World Championship points.He had more success in endurance racing, winning the 1971 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving a Martini-Porsche 917K with Gijs van Lennep. During that year, they set a distance record which remained unbeaten until the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans (5,335.313 km, at an average of 222.304 km/h - changes to the track reduced the average speed.)At the Targa Florio, he drove the fastest laps around the 72 km Sicilian mountain circuit in the 1972 race, catching up over two minutes on the leader within two laps to finish second by a mere 17 seconds. His fastest lap in the Alfa Romeo 33 was 33 min 41 sec, at an average of 128.253 km/h.[3]

A few weeks later, during the 1972 French Grand Prix at Clermont-Ferrand, a stone thrown up by Ronnie Peterson's March[4] pierced Marko's helmet visor, permanently blinding his left eye and ending his racing career.[5] [6] [7] [8] Marko completed a doctorate in law in 1967.[9] He owns four hotels in Graz – the Schlossberghotel, Augartenhotel, Lendhotel and Kai 36. He was manager for Austrian racing drivers Gerhard Berger and Karl Wendlinger for some years before setting up and running RSM Marko in 1989, a race team competing in Formula 3 and Formula 3000; running under the name Red Bull Junior Team from 1999 onwards. From 1999 he has also overseen the Red Bull driver development programme, which has steered drivers such as Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz Jr., Pierre Gasly and Max Verstappen into Formula One. Since 2005 he has been an advisor to the Formula One teams owned by Red Bull GmbH (Red Bull Racing (2005-present), Scuderia Toro Rosso (2006-2019), Scuderia AlphaTauri (2020-2023) and RB Formula One Team (2024)).[10]

Racing record

24 Hours of Le Mans results

YearTeamCo-DriversCarClassLaps
1970 Martini International Racing Team Rudi LinsPorsche 908/2LHP
3.0
3353rd1st
1971 Martini International Racing Team Gijs van LennepPorsche 917KS
5.0
3971st1st
1972 Autodelta SpA Vic ElfordAlfa Romeo Tipo 33TT3S
3.0
232DNFDNF

Complete British Saloon Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)

Complete European Formula Two Championship results

(key)

YearEntrantChassisEngine1234567891011Pts
1971Ecurie BonnierLola T240FordHOC
THRNÜR
JAR
PALROU20th1
Constructions Mechanique PygméePygmée MDB16MAN
TULALBVALVAL

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

YearEntrantChassisEngine123456789101112Pts
1971Ecurie BonnierMcLaren M7CFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8RSAESPMONNEDFRAGBRGER
NC0
Yardley-BRMBRM P153BRM P142 3.0 V12AUT
ITA
CAN
BRM P160USA
1972Austria-Marlboro
BRM
BRM P153BRM P142 3.0 V12ARG
RSA
ESPNC0
BRM P153BMON
BEL
BRM P160BFRA
GBRGERAUTITACANUSA

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: No retirement in sight for the good Dr. Marko. Michael. Delaney. www.f1i.com. 3 November 2019. 20 December 2019.
  2. Web site: Völker. Herbert. The First Formula One Pop Star. The Red Bulletin September 2010. Red Bull Media House GmbH. 25 March 2013.
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20130917141645/http://formula2.net/Targa72.htm 56th Targa Florio 1972, formula2.net, as archived at web.archive.org
  4. Web site: Helmut Marko reminiscences the fatal accident bringing an end to his promising F1 career 50 years ago . Gunaditya . Tripathi . 26 June 2022 . firstsportz.com . 23 October 2022.
  5. A Era dos Campeões. Hangar Filmes. DVD.
  6. News: Williams. Richard. Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko, the mastermind behind Sebastian Vettel. The Observer. Guardian News and Media Limited. 13 December 2011. London. 14 November 2010.
  7. Web site: Charade . racingcircuits.info . 10 April 2017.
  8. Web site: The Volcanic Rush of Clermont Ferrand . August 2013 . speedhunters.com . 10 April 2017.
  9. Web site: Völker. Herbert. Die Diagnosen des Doktors. Zeit Online. ZEIT ONLINE GmbH. 27 June 2013.
  10. News: Helmut Marko: Red Bull senior figure will not be suspended after talks with shareholder Oliver Mintzlaff. Sky Sports. 9 March 2024. 9 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240509081329/https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13090909/helmut-marko-red-bull-senior-figure-will-not-be-suspended-after-talks-with-shareholder-oliver-mintzlaff. 9 May 2024. live.