Berger's career was promoted by Helmut Marko, a fellow Austrian who had himself raced in Formula One. Marko started a total of nine grands prix with McLaren and BRM with a best result of sixth. His racing career was ended at the 1972 French Grand Prix when a stone was launched from the wheel of a car he was following, piercing his visor and blinding him in one eye. He later became an advisor to the Red Bull F1 team led by Austrian Dietrich Mateschitz.