The environment within an F1 team camp is equally, if not more, important than its technical aspects. The team can only thrive if its technical superiority is supported by a positive team atmosphere. A prime example of this mismatch is Red Bull. The Milton Keynes-based outfit was riding the waves of success. However, it was soon hit by a tide of internal power struggle, which destroyed its on-track performance.
Almost every F1 expert picked RBR as the favorite at the beginning of this season. However, once a female colleague accused Christian Horner of inappropriate behavior, everything went downhill. While the management tried its best to contain the damage, they failed miserably. This instigated internal power chaos, bifurcating the team into two factions. Former F1 driver Felipe Massa contends that this marked the start of a downward spiral for the Bulls.
“Not Nice,” Felipe Massa Picks McLaren Over Red Bull For The Constructor’s Cup
Red Bull’s internal turmoil has helped McLaren to surge upwards. Former F1 racer Felipe Massa feels that the intense competition is amazing for the sport. The Brazilian shared his opinion about the ongoing tussle between McLaren-Red Bull and the growing entropy within the RBR squad. He feels the spectators ants to see such stiff competition, where everyone is in the mix. If several racers are winning, it is great for F1. The season stands at a point where only six rounds are left, and the world title race is still wide open. Regarding the Constructor’s Cup, Massa picked McLaren as the strongest team, believing it would change the championship result.
On the Driver’s side, he feels Max Verstappen deserves to win, as he is a massive talent and a great driver. However, the internal situation at the energy drink-based camp will not help the Dutchman in his quest for the fourth WDC. The 43-year-old described the situation as “not nice,” noting that it could create havoc within the team. This was why he felt McLaren would outperform Red Bull in the Constructor’s Cup fight. Meanwhile, he wants Max to pick his fourth Driver’s crown, as he has been outstanding amid all the clutter. When asked to comment about Red Bull’s conundrum, Massa said it would not help. As a former Ferrari driver, he said things like these never help an outfit. Although he is unsure about the exact happening within the RBR camp, it is affecting the performance, as evident from the results of the last few weekends.
Jos Verstappen Fires Shot At Christian Horner Amid Mass Exodus
Although Christian Horner has been exonerated of the allegations, he still faces the heat. Amid all the chaos, the key personnel are competing to leave the squad. This has infuriated Jos Verstappen, as his son Max has to answer all the questions.
Thus, the Dutchman fired shots at Horner during a Motorsport.com interaction. He recalled his warning for the team, claiming a potential fallout. Further, Sr. Verstappen feels Horner is responsible for all the chaos, as he has “torn the team apart.” Moreover, he accused the RBR chief of not accepting his mistakes, saying “he (Horner) glosses over it.”