Despite Red Bull’s strong start to the season on the track, its achievements have been overshadowed by an off-track scandal, with Jos Verstappen confirming his belief in a prolonged power struggle within the team.
Jos Verstappen has confirmed the existence of an internal power struggle within Red Bull that he fears may “continue for a while.” Despite the team’s dominant performances in the first two races of the season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, led by three-time champion Max Verstappen, their success has been overshadowed by the off-track scandal involving team principal Christian Horner.
Initially cleared of improper behavior towards a female employee after an internal investigation, it is understood that an appeal has been launched or is imminent.
Behind the scenes, it has become evident that Christian Horner is engaged in a battle against the Verstappens and advisor Helmut Marko, despite his claims of team harmony and unity.
Following a victory in the Ardennes Rally, Jos Verstappen was once again questioned about the ongoing situation within the team. “It’s certainly difficult for outsiders to follow,” he remarked. “I believe it’s important to restore peace within the team, but given the circumstances, I think this will persist for some time. I’m curious, but it doesn’t help the overall process.”
When asked about a power struggle, Verstappen confirmed, “There is definitely a certain power struggle happening. We’ll see how it goes; I can’t say too much about it. I hope peace returns soon, and the focus shifts back to racing because that’s what matters. But this situation is not beneficial.”
The speed at which this can be resolved is uncertain, especially with Horner remaining in charge and potentially facing a second legal battle if an appeal is lodged to retain his position. Jos believes this will only add to Max’s frustration, as he will continue to face questions on the matter.
“I don’t know what the solution is,” Verstappen admitted. “The most important thing for us is that Max keeps winning, and he is. The car is performing very well, and there are no issues between the engineers and Max, which is positive. Max knows how to handle that aspect, but he receives a lot of questions about the situation, which he dislikes. However, that’s also part of Formula 1.”
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