Red Bull Racing’s internal conflict is exploding at a concerning rate. Ever since team boss Christian Horner was investigated for sexual misconduct, the racing outfit’s united front has come crashing down. The team is essentially divided into two halves, thus creating a sense of unrest among the employees.
Having said that, power struggle issues within Red Bull have escalated in these past few weeks. With Christian Horner’s alleged chats with the accuser getting leaked to Max Verstappen threatening to quit the team, the drink-based outfit has witnessed heavy turmoil. While Verstappen camp seems to be at loggerheads with Horner, the leadership has apparently made their choice.
Red Bull Leadership Will Allow Max Verstappen To Leave To Keep Christian Horner In Fold
Red Bull Racing stands divided into two parties after Christian Horner‘s sexual misconduct investigation exploded earlier this year. While Horner’s personal issues are far from getting resolved, Verstappen camp is seemingly annoyed with the unwanted controversies overshadowing the reigning F1 champion’s heroics on the track. Moreover, Jos Verstappen’s public support of Horner’s accuser only added fuel to the fire. In addition, after Helmut Marko’s job came under scanner, the Dutch driver suggested that he would seek an exit if Marko were removed. Apparently, there exists a clause in Max’s contract that allows him to terminate his deal in case of Marko’s disassociation with the team.
Amid growing conflict, Mirror reports that Red Bull’s superiors will likely prioritize Christian Horner’s stay within the team over Max Verstappen. Apparently, the longest-serving team principal has the backing of Red Bull CEOs Franz Watzlawick, Oliver Mintzlaff, and majority Thai shareholder Chalerm Yoodivhya. Therefore, in case Max insists on leaving the team in the future out of frustration due to Horner’s saga, the team leadership won’t stand in his way. The leadership values Christian’s experience and contributions to the racing outfit more than what Verstappen has been able to achieve in the sport. Having said that, while Max Verstappen has lost the vote of confidence in his team, Mercedes is ready to embrace him if a breakup were to happen. Toto Wolff has a seat to fill after Lewis Hamilton switched ships to Ferrari for the 2025 season. It would be interesting to see Max Verstappen actually break away from a dominant team to join Mercedes’ rebuilding phase.
Jos Verstappen Wary Of Internal Instability Adding To Max Verstappen’s Frustration
In a recent interview, Max Verstappen’s dad Jos Verstappen called out Red Bull’s internal conflict. He said Max’s dealing with the crisis in a professional manner so far. He is focused on racing and on-track activities. However, its only a matter of time before Max’s frustration peaks, feels Jos.
The former racing driver added that Red Bull is ruining everything by keeping Christian Horner on the team. He reaffirmed that the team stands on the edge of breaking apart if Horner continues to resume his role within the racing outfit. Overall, as the 2024 F1 season progresses, troubles will only increase for Red Bull even as they remain invincible from the track.
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