Marko dismisses Horner exit rumours ahead if Imola race

On the eve of this weekend's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko has dismissed speculations that the team boss Christian Horner could leave the Milton Keynes-based outfit after the Imola round.

On the back of Oliver Oakes’ shock exit from Alpine, the Briton was linked with Red Bull, with rumours suggesting that he might replace Christian Horner at the Milton Keynes squad.

Speaking to Austria's Krone Zeitung, Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko has denied the rumours that Horner might be removed as team boss after the Imola race.

“That’s complete nonsense,. Apparently, someone is trying to make themselves important again. For us, everything remains the same.”

Although Red Bull endured a disappointing start to the season, reigning champion Max Verstappen has already taken two pole positions while he is the only non-McLaren driver to have won a race this season, having beaten the McLaren duo in Suzuka in a close fight.

Despite Verstappen’s eye-catching results, Marko sounded downbeat when he assessed the current pecking order, albeit he pins hopes on the stricter front wing load test that will be introduced at the Spanish Grand Prix.

“In Miami, we were seven-tenths to a full second behind. The new regulations for the wings, which will be effective from Barcelona, give us more hope that something will change.”

Although Red Bull arrived with an upgrade package for this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Marko downplayed the immediate impact of the new parts.

“That’s overrated. There are incremental improvements, but you can’t expect us to suddenly have a winning car again. McLaren manages to keep the tire temperature within a very favourable window.”