Red Bull’s owners convened on Sunday to deliberate on the fate of Christian Horner amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding the Formula 1 team principal. Speculation suggests that Horner may face dismissal before the upcoming race in Australia on March 24th.
The Horner controversy has brought a cloud over the beginning of the 2024 F1 season and the reigning champions, Red Bull, despite their track success. The 50-year-old,
who is married to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, was accused of ‘inappropriate behavior’ by a female employee of Red Bull. However, he was subsequently cleared of the allegations following an investigation.
Following the probe, both texts and images emerged, contributing to the ongoing controversy. The complainant in the case has been placed on suspension with full pay by the team, indicating that the situation is far from being resolved quickly or quietly.
Adding to the tension, Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, publicly called for Christian Horner’s dismissal, stating that Red Bull would face turmoil if Horner remained. These remarks have been reiterated by Jos Verstappen, further escalating the situation.
Speculation has arisen that Max Verstappen, who has clinched the last three championships with Red Bull, might depart from the team. This speculation intensified after Max mentioned that he could not continue with Red Bull if team advisor Helmut Marko were to depart.
Marko himself acknowledged the possibility of suspension from the team, likely in connection to the leaked texts and images. Additionally, there exists a clause in Verstappen’s long-term contract that permits him to depart if the 80-year-old Marko is terminated.
The ongoing saga is overshadowing Red Bull’s on-track accomplishments, as they have secured dominant 1-2 finishes in the opening two races of the season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Despite Horner consistently refuting the allegations and emphasizing team unity, there is a growing sense that a resolution is necessary at this juncture, with the possibility of Horner himself being the one to step down.
A report from the German publication F1-Insider.com, which has connections to Marko, suggested that Red Bull’s owners, Chalerm Yoovidhya and Oliver Mintzlaff, had made the decision to remove Horner before the Australian Grand Prix.
However, a spokesperson from Red Bull Racing has denied these assertions, stating: “As Christian has stated, he appreciates the full support of the shareholders, and this remains the case.”
Yoovidhya, known to be a supporter of Horner, was present at the season opener in Bahrain and was observed conversing with the team boss before the race. On the other hand, Mintzlaff, who is known to have had disagreements with Horner, was in Saudi Arabia.
There is a noticeable absence of tension or stress. His demeanor in the garage, interacting with the team, reflects a relaxed attitude, and this ease extends to his performance on the track.
“We don’t perceive any problems with Max,” he said. “Despite all the noise surrounding the situation, it hasn’t diverted the team from our objectives. We remain united as one team.”
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