{
  "id": 12616227,
  "title": "Helmut Marko backs Ralf Schumacher’s 'absolute lie' comment on Christian Horner",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/helmut-marko-backs-ralf-schumachers-absolute-lie-comment-on-christian",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-07T11:31:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/helmut-marko-backs-ralf-schumacher-113130704.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Motorsport photo Christian Horner's upcoming autobiography, Drive, has sparked significant controversy as it delves into the signing of four-time World Champion Max Verstappen. According to Horner, former Red Bull Motorsport advisor Helmut Marko was opposed to bringing Verstappen on board, asserting that Verstappen's father, Jos Verstappen, had to intervene to facilitate the deal. However, Marko vehemently denies these claims. In an interview with Austrian outlet oe24, Marko dismissed Horner's version of events, stating, \"It's an absolute lie.\" Marko recounted his version of the story, explaining that he approached Verstappen when he was just 11 and a half years old, and that Jos initially believed the young karting prodigy was still too inexperienced. Despite the early skepticism, Marko maintained that Max thrived in karting and that they would later work together in Formula 3, leading to the extraordinary success the driver has enjoyed. Marko's defense comes after Christian Horner's book, which includes Horner's account of the Verstappen signing, is set to be released on October 22nd. The tension between Horner and Marko has been well-documented, particularly during the power struggle after Red Bull Racing founder Dietrich Mateschitz's death, which ultimately led to Horner's departure from the team.",
  "summary": "Helmut Marko just fired back at Christian Horner over an explosive new claim regarding Max Verstappen",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Motorsport.com",
        "title": "Helmut Marko backs Ralf Schumacher’s 'absolute lie' comment on Christian Horner",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/helmut-marko-backs-ralf-schumachers-absolute-lie-comment-on-christian-12616444",
        "published": "2026-10-07T11:31:30.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}