Latest news with #Horner
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Red Bull Unlikely to Rebound After Horner Exit, According to Schumacher
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Red Bull's competitiveness will be under the scanner when Formula One returns next weekend for the Belgian Grand Prix, given the sudden ousting of former team principal Christian Horner. Former Formula One driver Ralf Schumacher believes Red Bull will be unable to add significant performance to its car, especially in 2026, which could push Max Verstappen to Mercedes. Red Bull hasn't had a great start to the 2025 season. The campaign began with Verstappen struggling with his RB21 F1 car, which followed speculation about his potential switch to Mercedes. Following the British Grand Prix, Red Bull decided to part ways with Horner, adding to the team's uncertain future, especially considering that F1 enters a new era of regulations next year. Horner has been replaced by former Racing Bulls team principal, Laurent Mekies. Related: Red Bull to Part Ways With Yuki Tsunoda After 2025 Season: Report Red Bull has been developing the power units for the 2026 car for the first time, collaborating with automotive giant Ford under the Red Bull Powertrains banner. But with the team struggling to solve issues on the current car, Schumacher doubts Red Bull's 2026 car, designed by technical director Pierre Waché, will match the performance of the cars designed by former Red Bull technical director Adrian Newey, who moved to Aston Martin this year. Revealing that Horner's exit won't change the technical side of things at Red Bull for the short-term future, Schumacher said on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with Gianpiero Lambiase, Head of Racing of Oracle Red Bull Racing in the garage during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great... Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with Gianpiero Lambiase, Head of Racing of Oracle Red Bull Racing in the garage during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 05, 2025 in Northampton, England. More"The change of team principal will not change anything in the technical team for the time being. Designer Pierre Waché will continue to build the car next year. "It almost looks as if he will not be able to close this gap, replace Adrian Newey in any way and build a car capable of winning. Red Bull will therefore face a difficult time." Mercedes driver George Russell admitted recently that his contract extension discussions were on hold due to the team's ongoing talks with Verstappen. Team principal Toto Wolff also acknowledged the discussions, but stressed that Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli will likely form the 2026 driver lineup. Despite the assurance, rumors surrounding Verstappen and Mercedes continue to do the rounds after Horner's exit. Schumacher added that the four-time world champion will have to consider a Mercedes switch if he intends to find performance next year. He said: "Verstappen is in a dilemma. The signs are not good for Red Bull at the moment. If Max Verstappen wants to have short-term success next year, he will have to look elsewhere. "I therefore believe that the journey is heading towards Mercedes. I could imagine that he himself is still struggling because he is naturally attached to Red Bull."
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Christian Horner Accused of Causing His Own Downfall Through Team Verstappen
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Sky Sports F1 presenter Karun Chandhok has revealed that former Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner was responsible for his own downfall by handing too much power to "Team Verstappen." Horner was ousted by Red Bull last week, and the reason for the decision has yet to be believes Horner's excessive reliance on Max Verstappen paved the way to his departure. Red Bull's F1 car is suited to the four-time world champion to the extent that other drivers have found it challenging to adapt themselves to the car. Verstappen's current teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, is the third driver to race alongside him in the last year. Sergio Perez, who raced alongside Verstappen in 2024, struggled to score points in the RB20. Verstappen went on to secure his fourth title with the same car. Following Perez's exit after the 2024 season, Liam Lawson took his seat in the RB21 for the current season, but was demoted back to Racing Bulls after just two races due to performance concerns. Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing in the garage during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at... Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing in the garage during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 03, 2025 in Miami, Florida. MoreFollowing Tsunoda's promotion to Red Bull, his performance has notably dropped, hinting at the probability of Red Bull's title challenger being Verstappen-centric. Chandhok believes Horner led a one-car team since it was only Verstappen who scored points consistently, while his teammates struggled with the car. This reportedly gave the Dutch driver excessive power within Red Bull. Speaking on The F1 Show podcast, Chandhok explained: "I think in some of what's happened, if you look at it in recent years, it's become a one-car team, right? We've talked about how since Daniel Ricciardo left, the way the car design has gone, the way the team has been structured, it's very much all the eggs in the Max Verstappen camp and in that basket. "And ultimately that's kind of created his downfall. It's put a disproportionate amount of power into 'Team Verstappen' to the point of which where, if you're the wider Red Bull group, you look at it and go, 'hang on a second, yes Max is on pole of the British Grand Prix, yes he's won two races this year, but the other cars nowhere.'" Chandhok believes the excessive power held by Verstappen became evident, and it was Horner who came under fire for the kind of structure he created within the team. He added: "And actually it's put a huge amount of power in Max's camp. If he leaves that team, they'd be fourth, fifth best on the grid at the moment. "So I think that has been one of the feelings, and ultimately, Christian's got to carry the can for that, because he's the man in charge, he's led that philosophy of structuring the team in that way. "Maybe it's happened by accident, but the reality is he's the man in charge, and I think there's a strong element of that is he's put a lot of power and faith into Team Verstappen. And I wonder if that ultimately comes back to bite him a bit." Related: F1 Insider Makes Bombshell Claim of Verstappen's Involvement in Christian Horner Exit
Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Nelson Piquet on Christian Horner's sacking from Red Bull: 'Some didn't like the team environment'
Nelson Piquet (left) with Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet (Image credit: Instagram) Nelson Piquet has divulged some inside details about what may have led to Christian Horner's sacking from Red Bull. He is the father of Red Bull champion Max Verstappen's girlfriend, Kelly Piquet, and a three-time Formula One World Drivers' Champion. The F1 veteran indicated that Horner's presence at Red Bull made it difficult for the team to hire new talent or bring back former colleagues. Who is Nelson Piquet? Christian Horner served as the Team Principal at Red Bull for 20 years, during which Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen won multiple Formula One World Championships. Verstappen is currently in a relationship with Kelly Piquet, the daughter of Nelson Piquet and his second ex-wife, Sylvia Tamsma. He is also the grandfather of Kelly and Max's baby girl, Lily. Nelson Piquet on what went wrong at Red Bull Dropping a truth bomb during the Pelas Pistas podcast, Nelson Piquet said, 'What's the reason they are struggling to keep Max? I heard it's that they have difficulty bringing some key people back or hiring, because some didn't like the team environment. Those little problems came up between [Horner] and Max's father. In a way, it bothered some people, and for them to bring the people they want back, some felt that with Christian there, it would be more difficult. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 痛みのない血糖測定器が何百万人もの人々の生活を変えています Wmet 今すぐ購入 Undo ' He continued, 'That's what people have been saying. It was about sharing tasks a little bit more, and Horner didn't want to do that. He wanted to maintain control over everything—both teams, over the engines; he wanted to be in control of everything. But for him, it was a win-win situation.' Piquet also stressed that Verstappen wasn't the reason behind Horner's dismissal. Horner was removed from his role at Red Bull during a season in which the team has struggled to maintain form, despite Verstappen winning the Drivers' Championship title last year. Piquet claimed, 'If he gets all the power, for him, it's a huge moral issue. And if he doesn't, he gets a huge amount of money — almost 100 million dollars. Maybe part of that is psychological, so they can get rid of him and hire this list of people back. It's not just because of Max.' Also Read: Sacked Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner's wife Geri Horner hit by £1 million debt Horner has reportedly been placed on gardening leave, during which he will receive a hefty salary. He has been replaced by Racing Bulls Team Principal, Laurent Mekies. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
F1 Insider Makes Bombshell Claim of Verstappen's Involvement in Christian Horner Exit
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Former driver and Sky Sports F1 reporter Martin Brundle has made a big claim that Max Verstappen and his father, Jos Verstappen, could have fueled Christian Horner's abrupt exit from Red Bull Racing. Horner was asked to step down from the position of CEO and team principal with immediate effect last week. The reason for his exit hasn't been revealed yet, but Brundle claimed he had an idea of who contributed to his ousting. Horner's clash with Jos Verstappen reportedly occurred last year. The team boss was accused by a female employee of inappropriate behavior, prompting Jos to argue with Horner over the incident. He even went to the extent of saying back then that Red Bull was at the "risk of being torn apart" if Horner continued to be in his position. The controversy followed a reported power struggle at Red Bull between Horner and senior advisor Helmut Marko. The team's internal situation worsened as key personnel such as Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley announced their exits. Speaking on Sky Sports' The F1 Show podcast, Brundle pointed out that elements were working against Horner at Red Bull. He said: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing, Jos Verstappen, and Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing talk in the garage during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International... Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing, Jos Verstappen, and Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing talk in the garage during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 26, 2025 in Bahrain, Bahrain. More"Team Verstappen had been briefing certain journalists and Christian's just come more and more under pressure, and he lost key people like Adrian Newey, like Rob Marshall, like Jonathan Wheatley. "I think his failing on that was convincing himself and trying to convince everybody else that they weren't really doing that much anymore, and it really didn't matter, he'd got a better crew behind them. But that wasn't correct, and I think we've seen [that]. "But let's remember, this is a team that was on pole position last weekend in Silverstone, one of the toughest circuits in the world, and have won two grands prix this year. It's not exactly like it's been a disaster and they completely non-performed. "But I think there were too many things working against him, and I think eventually... He had a lot of support from Chalerm Yoovidhya [Red Bull co-founder/owner], and I think eventually that's faded away, and the inevitable has happened." Horner was replaced by former Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies. Brundle described the sudden replacement as an "odd" move and pointed out that "Team Verstappen" was not happy with Horner heading the team. He added: "For whatever reason, they've decided that Christian's not the man to lead them into the next phase, that Laurent Mekies is, and other people they'll, no doubt, put around him. "So, it's just odd. This is a strange time to do it, and a strange urgency, I would say to that. "We don't know what's gone on behind closed doors, but I do know that Team Verstappen were not happy with him there." When Brundle was asked if the Verstappens offered Red Bull a choice to either keep them or Horner, especially given Max's rumored talks with Mercedes, the Sky F1 presenter said: "I don't know, but what's absolutely clear is that the Verstappen camp have been lobbing in hand grenades for quite some months now, and some of them have gone off, and it's been pretty relentless in that respect. "And I think at times, Max's dad, Jos, has made it absolutely clear that he thinks Christian shouldn't be leading the company and leading the team." Brundle confirmed that Team Verstappen contributed to Horner's ousting, but clarified he was unsure of what exactly played out behind closed doors. However, he still chose to stand by what he had heard and seen. He said: "So I would, yes, they played a key role in Christian's exit. "But like I say, unless you're behind closed doors, then you don't know for certain. "But, there are certain things I do know, and certain things I have seen and heard that makes me think they were pretty involved in this decision."
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Max Verstappen Backed Christian Horner Days Before Red Bull Sacking
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Red Bull driver Max Verstappen backed former boss Christian Horner before he got sacked by the higher-ups at the racing team. Horner was removed from his powerful position within Red Bull last week - a move which has sent ripple effects all over the grid. He served 20 years at Red Bull and helped bring the mega-talented Verstappen to Formula 1. Under Horner's leadership, the team provided the talent with a fantastic car over the years and allowed him to realize his dream of winning titles. Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit... Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on May 30, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. More Photo byVerstappen has won four consecutive drivers' championships since 2021, but the streak will end this season unless there is a historic comeback from the Dutch driver. This season, the RB21 is not the top car, and Verstappen is almost out of the title race. The team's recent poor form, coupled with Horner's reported internal power struggle, has been a significant factor. Initial reports after the firing claim that the Verstappen camp wanted Horner out and leveraged their possible exit to have him removed. That chain of events is doubtful since Verstappen backed Horner in the media days before the firing. "It is always easy to say when things are going well, you say: 'Oh, the management is working,'" Verstappen told the media. "If you asked the question back in 2023, what is the best way, you would say: 'Red Bull is doing great, so everything is working well. "So it is easy [to blame the management], but it is something I don't think is negative. "The balance issues this year have been a bit better, but in some areas we are a little bit weak, and in low-speed corners, we are not that good. "Particularly in the medium speed, that is where McLaren is really strong and we are not able to match that." With Horner removed from the picture, Verstappen's future remains muddled as the driver weighs his future. Mercedes is highly interested in the Dutch driver, as is Aston Martin, but the final decision lies with Verstappen. The buzz from the paddock indicates that the Mercedes powertrain is projected to be the strongest next season in the new regulations. Verstappen can take as long as he wants in making his decision, but with a drastic change to the regulations, his next decision will be pivotal for the upcoming season. More F1 news: How Lewis Hamilton Made the F1 Movie Production More Expensive For more F1 news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
