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Topics: Formula 1, Christian Horner, Max Verstappen, Motorsport
Tom Jenkins
Topics: Formula 1, Christian Horner, Max Verstappen, Motorsport
An F1 insider has revealed exactly what Red Bull's staff were thinking during Christian Horner's surprise departure speech at the team's HQ in Milton Keynes.
The world of Formula 1 was shaken on Wednesday when Red Bull confirmed that team principal of 20 years Christian Horner would be replaced by Laurent Mekies with immediate effect.
Horner had won six constructor titles, eight driver titles, and 124 grand prix with the team as tributes to his work have poured in, including from reigning world champion Max Verstappen.
Footage of the 51-year-old addressing employees to announce his exit surfaced online quickly after the news was confirmed, and an F1 insider has provided even more clarity on the atmosphere in the factory.
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F1 journalist Daniel Valente has revealed that members of the Red Bull team believed the meeting was concerning the future of Verstappen rather than Horner himself.
He wrote on X: "Had a Red Bull employee tell me they initially thought the invite about a Christian Horner announcement was going to be announcing Max Verstappen’s departure. Sums up the feeling of uncertainty there."
Valente has since confirmed that the employee 'assumed' this rather than actually knew the Dutchman would be departing the team at some stage.
However, it demonstrates the clear lack of clarity over the future within the team, which in Formula 1 always seems to have consequences on the track.
Horner's departure came as a massive shock to everyone in the F1 community despite a significant drop in performance over the last two seasons.
According to AMuS the higher ups at Red Bull put the sole blame for recent bad decisions on Horner, with the Sergio Perez's contract situation a major factor.
Red Bull believed Horner handed Perez an unnecessary contract in 2024, which led to the team being forced to pay a huge amount to terminate his deal last year.
The team also believed that both Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda were 'inadequate' in the second seat, which could have proved to be the deciding factor.