The 2024 season has been turbulent for the Red Bull team, like sailing through a stormy ocean. What began as a sexual misconduct allegation against Christian Horner has now shaken the entire RBR management. To make matters worse, Red Bull’s on-track performance declined, with the RB20 no longer the fastest car on the grid. Experts believe this sudden downturn is due to Adrian Newey’s departure.
On the other hand, some believe this is just the beginning of turmoil, and things will get even more chaotic. Moreover, due to an inefficient administration, the F1 aficionados predict a Red Bull’ mass exodus’. The latest RBR “exit club” entry was its Sporting Director, Jonathan Wheatley. He will leave the setup and start a new role as Audi’s team principal. However, a former F1 driver believes more names could join the “exit club.”
Former F1 Driver Refuels “Flying Red Bull CVs” Rumors Amid Internal Turbulence
When Adrian Newey stepped down as Red Bull’s Chief Technical Officer, it indicated internal unrest within the squad. His departure placed RBR in the crosshairs of its critique, while rivals were eager to take verbal shots at the reigning champions. McLaren CEO Zak Brown claimed the RBR CVs are “flying across the paddock,” as the team members are unwilling to work in a toxic environment. Brown got Mercedes chief Toto Wolff’s support, who claimed the Bulls were in a deep puddle.
Although the unrest appears to have subsided, former World Champion Nico Rosberg believes otherwise. In a conversation with Sky Germany, Rosberg acknowledged the comments of Ralf Schumacher, who claimed that RBR was under a “mass exodus” threat. Further, he claimed the Austrian outfit’s members are sending applications to other teams in the paddock. He added that the internal chaos had affected Red Bull’s on-track performance.
Earlier, Christian Horner received a clean chit from the investigation team. However, this did not impact the team’s internal situation. In fact, reports suggested a power struggle between Horner, Marko, and other senior team members. While the turmoil remains behind closed doors, its repercussions have seeped into the racing circuit. Consequently, Max Verstappen has not won a race in his last six outings. Therefore, the team requires a complete de-clutter to return to the winning ways.
Ralf Schumacher Warns Red Bull Turmoil Is Far From Over
On a similar note, former Williams and Toyota drivers professed that if the chaos continued to hover over the Austrian team, it could result in more resignations. Schumacher was asked about the RBR situation and if it was over. “Not at all,” he replied, affirming uncertainty is still around the energy drink-based team.
Moreover, the German racer expects the team members to build up as the team faces pressure on every front. If the squad fails to manage the chaos, dissatisfaction will grow and become increasingly troublesome.