They have been inseparable for years: team manager Horner and Max Verstappen. In the early years it was often clearing the rubble after another failed championship hunt or yet another broken engine, but in recent seasons it has been party after party. Verstappen has been champion for three years in a row.
Speculate
But it could just be that the success team will fall apart. Horner is accused of inappropriate behavior – much more is not clear – and an investigation was conducted. A decision about his future will be made this week.
Formula 1 analyst Allard Kalff is following it closely and states that it is ‘quite unclear what happened’. He therefore has no idea what will happen. “Everyone is guessing. But if it had been really bad, he would have been gone already, right?”
Ford is not happy
So it’s speculation, but it is clear that many parties would like this to quickly become a thing of the past. For example, Formula One Management (FOM), the commercial owner of Formula 1, recently stated that it hopes that the issue will be clarified as soon as possible, after a fair and thorough process.
Engine manufacturer Ford is also not happy with the state of affairs. That company is working with Red Bull to supply the engines for the team in 2026. According to Ford, the accusations do not fit with the company values. “And they are non-negotiable.”
What are the consequences?
Suppose Horner indeed has to leave the day before the F1 start, what impact does that have for Verstappen? Kalff thinks it won’t be too bad. “You are not dealing with someone who does not race, but with someone who puts the right figures in the right place.”
But according to him it has no consequences. “There will also be people who will look further if he has to leave. But there will also be dissatisfied people if he stays.”
‘Everything was right at Red Bull’z
Not everyone agrees with that view. Against the NOS said ex-driver Jeroen Bleekemolen saw ‘a major turning point’. “Everything was right at Red Bull, everything was in balance, partly due to the influence of Max Verstappen and Christian Horner. But if he disappears, it will have a lot of influence on the organization.”
Racing analyst Jan Lammers also sees it this way. “You are essentially taking away the conductor for his orchestra.”
So we have to wait and see, for Horner, for Verstappen and for the rest of the racers. One thing is certain: the lights will go out on Saturday and the first race of the year will start. Verstappen will be the big favourite. With or without Horner.
2024-02-27 14:46:36
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