Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner made several enemies in his quest to achieve dominance in the sport of Formula 1. Besides breaching the cost cap rule in 2021, Horner was caught in a whirlwind of criticism following allegations of sexual harassment by an internal female employee.
Moreover, as the 2024 F1 season progressed, Red Bull’s woes only doubled owing to raining controversies and decline in performance. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s top critic and McLaren CEO Zak Brown once again lashed out at old friend Christian Horner for repeatedly making a mockery out of the sport’s integrity by defying controversial charges.
Zak Brown Demands Accountability From Christian Horner Over Cost Cap Breach
Red Bull Racing was involved in a controversy surrounding a breach of Formula 1’s cost cap regulations back in 2021. The rule was enforced in the same year with a view to even the battlefield and diminish the advantage of rich organizations. However, by the end of 2021, RB went overboard and was handed financial penalties along with a 10% reduction in wind tunnel time. Having said that, team principal Christian Horner refused to take the blame and instead held the increased catering budget responsible for the mismanagement of funds. This approach and mindset didn’t sit well with McLaren CEO Zak Brown as he called out old friend Horner for lacking transparency.
Zak Brown opined that after Red Bull was caught in the cost cap controversy, not once Christian Horner put his hand up and took the blame. His responses lacked transparency, and the overall lack of accountability over such a serious regulation breach was a tight slap on the integrity of the sport. “I heard excuses and not taking ownership,” Brown said. The McLaren boss added that protecting F1’s integrity is a part of his job. While his approach and mindset might not make him a popular face on the paddock, as long as McLaren is thriving under his watch, any and every step is justified. “I’m friends with McLaren, our fans, our partners, that’s what’s most important to me,” Brown added. Notably, Zak Brown also raised his voice against Red Bull’s evasive approach in Horner’s sexual abuse case that surfaced earlier this year.
Red Bull Woes Increase As Mass Exodus Threat Looms
Following Christian Horner’s sexual harassment case induced an internal power struggle inside Red Bull, veteran aerodynamicist Adrian Newey terminated his contract to seek an early exit from the organization where he spent the past two decades. Meanwhile, another veteran executive Jonathan Wheatley followed Newey’s footsteps to jump ships to Audi.
Having said that, the next person in line is believed to be three-time world champion Max Verstappen. The Dutch player has been aggressively pursued by Mercedes ever since Lewis Hamilton announced his move to Ferrari earlier this year. Moreover, as per fresh reports, Aston Martin is also in the lineup to lure Verstappen with a big fat paycheck. Hence, at this pace, Red Bull is likely to be left paralyzed as a result of a mass exodus.
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