Christian Horner insists there was no plot to try and oust motorsport advisor Helmut Marko from the Red Bull F1 team.

Marko’s future at the team was thrown into serious doubt on Friday when ಌhe revealed he faced suspension amid an internal investigation relating to the controversy around team principal Horner.

But after receiving strong public backing from 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen, and following crunch talks with Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff, the 80-year-old Austrian confirmed less🌱 than 24 hours later that he will be staying with the team.

Marko thanked Verstappen, w💮ho effectively threatened to quit Red Bull if Marko was let go, and told Sky Germany: "We agreed on all points. I will continu🔯e here. My contract still has three years to run.”

Speaking to Austrian broadcaster ORF before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Marko rubbished the suggestion he was behind various media leaks and indicated there had been a “cunning” plot to try tไo get rid of him.

“Absolute rubbish. I'm r🦩eally happy when I have my iPhone halfway under contr🅘ol,” Marko said.

“I haven't seen this report or any of these chats. I deliberately stayed out of it. To associate me with it was almost like𓆏 a planned operation, as✅ I realised. ‘Cunning’, as [Niki] Lauda would say.”

H🔜orner said the matter had nothing to do with him, or the Red Bull F1 team.

“I think the rumoꦍur about suspension was as news to the team as it was to anybody else. We were quite surprised to 𝓰hear that,” he said.

“Helmut is a contractor to Red Bull ༒GmbH, so it was an issue between them. We weren't party or part of that൲ discussion.

“I've known Helmut since 1996, and he๊'s played an important role over the years. That role has evolved over the years. I've known him a very,🌜 very long time.

“Coming 🎃up to 81 years o♓f age, he's still obviously motivated about Formula 1, which is a positive thing.”

Horner was then asked if Verstappen’🌠s show of support had influenced Red Bull’s d🎃ecision.

“There has been no decision-making process around Helmut, so I am not quite sure where the rumour has permeated fro🔯m,” Horner replied.

“But it is not something I’ve been involved in.”

Horner w🌄ent on to add: “My relationship with Helmut is no issue. I think that he's always outspoken, but that's Helmut.

“Everybody has a role to play no matter what that role is. I think this team has been incredibly successful, and it has had tremendous ability for a long period of tim♊e. That has been one of the keys to our success.”