A rift within Red Bull that threatens to split the team from the inside out casts doubt on Christian Horner’s ability to lead, and mounting criticism from outside the camp only makes the troubled team principal more vulnerable.
Red Bull was forced to release a statement disputing any problems and asserting that “the team are united and we are focused on racing” after Jos Verstappen, the father of Max Verstappen, publicly called for Horner to be removed from his position and warned Red Bull is “in danger of being torn apart.” Meanwhile, Horner’s bitter rival, Toto Wolff of Mercedes, stated pointedly that he hoped the F1 authorities would “set the compass right.”
Horner may have thought that Red Bull’s strong start to the season—which included Verstappen winning easily at the Bahrain Grand Prix—would relieve some of the strain, but those dreams were dashed when the driver’s father decided to voice his concerns.
For the first time, Jos Verstappen publicly stated that he thought Horner should be fired in an interview with the Daily Mail. He stated, “As long as he stays in this position, there is tension here.” “There’s a chance this team might fall apart. Things cannot continue as they are. It’s going to blow up. Even though he is the one creating the issues, he is acting the victim.
Certain sections have claimed that Verstappen Sr. is trying to force Horner out of his position. That wouldn’t make sense, though, according to the 51-year-old father of Red Bull’s three-time world champion. Given how well Max is doing here, why would I do that?
The first week of the season was dominated by the controversy surrounding the Red Bull team principal, who was cleared by an independent investigation into claims of inappropriate behavior made by a female employee but involved in a leaked email exchange containing messages purportedly exchanged between him and the complainant.
Horner did demonstrate support for his spouse Geri, who showed up to the track on Saturday hand in hand with her husband. Before Horner departs for Saudi Arabia this week for the second race of the season, it is understood that the couple has already returned to the UK.
Following the race on Saturday, Horner reaffirmed his confidence in his ability to run the team, and it is known that Chalerm Yoovidhya, who holds a 51% stake in Red Bull GmbH, the team’s parent business, continues to support him. On Saturday, the Thai driver joined Horner on the grid.
Red Bull asserts that communication between the two camps has improved, but Verstappen’s remarks represented the first official expression of what is thought to be a fundamental rift at the team’s core, with Jos having a significant influence on his son’s career and decision-making.
During the race weekend, Max Verstappen was noticeably reticent to declare his complete faith in Horner. When pressed, he merely acknowledged that, from a “performance” standpoint, he supported Horner in his job for the team. Horner declared on Saturday that he would not discuss the reasons for the leak or its details.
In the broader sphere, Horner is also going to be subjected to ongoing criticism. After the race, Wolff, the principal of the Mercedes team and a strong advocate for diversity and inclusivity in Formula One, reiterated that the issues at hand are more important than the sport itself or that it’s just about scoring points. He had previously called for the release of the investigation’s results regarding Horner.
He remarked, “If I start to question how this has been handled, I’m probably not helping the situation as a whole because it might be interpreted as just another F1 power struggle.” “It is a far wider subject and not within the teams’ purview. I don’t want to downplay the circumstances by giving the impression that the Red Bull person is mentioned by the Mercedes or McLaren guy.
“Let’s see how it goes over the next few days, and I sincerely hope that the commercial rights holder, the governing body, sets the right compass.”
