Helmut Marko just explained why Red Bull don’t regret losing Carlos Sainz or Alex Albon

Seven of the 20 drivers on the Formula 1 grid are products of the Red Bull programme. Factor in Jack Doohan, and eight of their academy graduates have raced at the highest level this year.

Clearly, that reflects well on Helmut Marko and his talent scouts. Max Verstappen is the headline alumnus with four world championships, but there are also several Red Bull-linked drivers thriving in the midfield.

Isack Hadjar has been F1’s standout rookie this season in the eyes of many pundits. Indeed, he could start 2026 as Verstappen’s teammate as Yuki Tsunoda struggles, having previously impressed at the sister team.

Liam Lawson is also enduring a tough season after making way for Tsunoda in April, but he still has time to repair his reputation. Indeed, Alex Albon’s F1 prospects were in doubt when he lost his Red Bull drive at the 2020, but he’s now flying at Williams.

Albon sits eighth in the standings, putting him on course to win the ‘midfield championship’ this season. Teammate Carlos Sainz, who partnered Verstappen at Toro Rosso in his rookie year and went on to win races for Ferrari, is 13th.

Alpine’s poor car is limiting Pierre Gasly’s ability to show his full potential, three years after he finally left the Red Bull stable. But Gasly has scored two podiums in as many full seasons at Enstone, so he’s ready to shine if the team achieve their long-term goals.

Red Bull chief Helmut Marko adamant he has no regrets in Formula 1

During an interview on The Inside Track, a BBC podcast, host Matt Majendie asked Marko whether he had any regrets. He was likely referring to drivers like Albon and Sainz, who have flourished outside Verstappen’s shadow.

Red Bull are struggling to find a competitive teammate for Verstappen, having cycled through three drivers in the space of four months. But Marko says there’s nothing he’d do differently.

Several of their former prospects are also competing in different disciplines. For instance, Nyck de Vries, Sebastien Buemi and Jean-Eric Vergne will all take part in the iconic Le Mans 24 Hours this weekend.

“Are there any young drivers who have got away from you that you wish you had got?” Majendie asked. “Do you ever have any regrets?

“No,” Marko bluntly replied. “If we don’t continue with them, 98% of them are racing in different categories.

“They are successful, they are earning far more money than they would earn in a normal job, and they do what they like. I can say… there’s no name I regret [losing] that we have [previously had].”

Is Helmut Marko finally changing at 82 years old?

Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies says there’s no prospect of Marko retiring, even though he’s now 82 years old. He will continue to oversee Red Bull’s conveyor belt.

But there are signs that he may be adopting a new philosophy. He has long been regarded as one of the most ruthless and impatient figures in Formula 1.

Now, though, Marko wants to be cautious with Isack Hadjar. He’s seen drivers like Lawson and Albon burned after they arguably stepped up to the top team too quickly.

And while Arvid Lindblad has been granted an FIA superlicence before his 18th birthday, a debut this season is unlikely. In the past, he might have dumped an underperforming driver like Lawson midway through the year and fast-tracked Lindblad, potentially to the Briton’s long-term detriment.