Laurent Mekies has revealed that Helmut Marko, along with Red Bull boss Oliver Mintzlaff, was “the driving force” behind his appointment as Christian Horner’s successor earlier this year. It comes as the current Red Bull team principal paid tribute to the outgoing Marko, admitting that “his departure will leave a void.”

Helmut Marko, the ever-present architect of Red Bull’s modern racing empire, will retire from his role and from F1 at the end of the year.