In terms of sport, the Formula 1 opening weekend went well for Red Bull Racing. But the Christian Horner case and a power struggle behind the scenes are keeping the racing team on tenterhooks.
The scandal surrounding Red Bull team boss Christian Horner is overshadowing the Formula 1 opener in 2024. The climate in the team is apparently severely strained.
The team boss organized a personal meeting with Max Verstappen’s manager in Dubai on Monday in order to eliminate the increasing tensions at Red Bull and smooth things over somewhat. This is reported by the British broadcaster “Sky Sports”. Details of the conversation are not known.
Red Bull achieved a double victory in Bahrain on Saturday, but behind the scenes things are still going strong.
The background is the allegations against Christian Horner, who was accused of inappropriate behavior by an RB employee. Before the F1 race in the desert, the racing team had acquitted Horner. But shortly afterwards things escalated further. Alleged chat histories were leaked from an anonymous email address. Horner is still in the firing line.
Max Verstappen’s father Jos has now openly called for the Brit to resign. And he goes one step further.
As the English “Telegraph” reports with reference to the environment of Max Verstappen’s father Jos, the future of the three-time world champion has long been at stake.
Jos Verstappen attacks Christian Horner
This means: If Christan Horner continues to hold on to his position as Red Bull team boss, Max Verstappen and his father Jos will reportedly consider an early departure – a catastrophe scenario for the successful Austrian racing team.
Jos Verstappen has long been considered Christian Horner’s opponent.
There was also a “violent argument” in the paddock between Verstappen senior and the 50-year-old last Friday on the sidelines of the Bahrain Grand Prix, as the “Daily Mail” reported. It is said that Horner suspects Verstappen of being behind the email leaks and of staging a campaign against him.
Accusations that the Dutchman immediately refuted to the paper: “That wouldn’t make any sense. Why should I do that when Max is doing so well here?” At the same time, Jos Verstappen made it clear that every day that Christian Horner remains team boss at Red Bull, the risk that the team will be “torn apart” increases: “It can’t go on like this. It will escalate. He’s playing the victim He’s the one causing the problems.”