As of: February 27, 2024, 6:07 p.m
By: Philipp Kuserau
Comments
Press
Split
Christian Horner's Formula 1 future as Red Bull team boss seems more uncertain than ever.
Support for the Briton seems to be dwindling more and more.
Munich - A few days before the engines finally roar again in Formula 1, everything at Red Bull revolves around the question: Will team boss Christian Horner stay or does he still have to pack his bags?
Horner is said to have harassed an employee - the team boss denies the allegations
On February 5th, allegations were made against the 50-year-old that he had behaved inappropriately towards an employee.
The parent company Red Bull then initiated an investigation.
Horner himself still vehemently denies the allegations.
“There is a process that is underway at the moment.
Some allegations have been made which I completely reject.
I am fully involved in this process and will continue to do so until it is completed,” he explained in a media round at the presentation of the new Red Bull car.
Will Horner remain team boss at Red Bull?
Pressure is getting bigger and bigger
A lot now revolves around the question of when a decision about Horner's future will be announced.
A decision is expected by Wednesday at the latest.
But even if Horner remains in office as team boss, the shambles that have arisen as a result of the allegations already seem large.
Engine partner Ford has already publicly complained that the process has so far lacked transparency.
The US company Liberty Media, after all the American chief marketer for Formula 1, is also calling for a quick clarification.
Schumacher: “The unrest in the team is relatively great”
“The unrest in the team is relatively great and you can hear that there was also trouble behind the scenes.
The question is whether people are so divided that they can actually no longer work together,” said Sky expert Ralf Schumacher of the
German Press Agency
.
My news
In just one sentence: Schumacher destroyed Hülkenberg's hopes even before the first race read
Swiss Schumi neighbors unpack: read “He stayed among us”.
Ten years after Michael Schumacher's accident: Brother Ralf honors sister-in-law Corinnalesen
Alonso on relationship with Schumacher: “Difficult to have a conversation with him” read
Mourning for German gymnast: young hopeful dies unexpectedly
These sports stars will end their careers in 2023
In any case, Horner is still team boss at Red Bull Racing.
However, there is currently speculation as to who else is behind the Brit at Red Bull.
Will Christian Horner remain team boss at Red Bull Racing?
© IMAGO/Photo: EIBNER/Thomas Fuessler
Thai majority owner is said to be behind Horner
The portal
F1-Insider.com
claims to have learned that two camps have now formed.
On the one hand, there are the group's Austrian decision-makers around Mark Mateschitz (son of Dietrich Mateschitz) and CEO Oliver Mintzlaff, who probably want to get rid of Horner as quickly as possible.
The report from
F1-Insider.com
also states that people in Austria are becoming increasingly frustrated with the behavior of the British team boss.
“Horner lives on another planet.
He is no longer of this world,” the portal quotes an unnamed source.
On the other side is Chalerm Yoovidhya, majority owner of Red Bull, who is said to stand by Horner.
“For Chalerm, Horner is a kind of foster son.
He stands by him unconditionally.
And whether we like it or not: Unfortunately, the reality is that our Western values of equality have not yet arrived in Thailand.
The role of a woman is viewed differently there,” explains Ralf Schumacher to
F1-Insider.com.
Verstappen is also the World Cup favorite this season
One thing is certain: without the consent of the Thai family, it will be difficult to relieve Horner of his duties as team boss.
The Horner case has not yet affected Red Bull Racing's sporting success.
During the test drives before the first race in Bahrain (all Formula 1 dates at a glance), world champion Max Verstappen was once again able to impress and is once again the clear favorite for the title.
For Nico Hülkenberg and Team Haas, however, it could be another season to forget.
(kus)