Ford Stands Firm: Red Bull's Engine Partner Amid Horner Drama
Mar.14 - For now at least, Red Bull has retained the backing of its 2026 works Formula 1 engine partner Ford amid the Christian Horner power struggle and scandal.
At Jeddah, Red Bull's F1 consultant Dr Helmut Marko - reportedly on the other side of the Horner camp - admitted that both Ford and also Honda have expressed concerns about the ongoing and murky nature of the saga.
However, trackside meetings in Saudi Arabia at least brought some calm to the scandal.
"A lot has become clearer," Marko, 80, now tells De Telegraaf newspaper.
When asked if he can continue to work with Horner, he explained: "We've been doing it for 19 years already, so why not?
"However, there are still some issues that need to be resolved."
At least for now, Ford still appears committed to the energy drink brand's motorsport program, revealing itself as the title sponsor of the Red Bull-backed F1 Academy team project - the new, all-female F1 support series.
Mercedes boss and Red Bull nemesis Toto Wolff, however, warns that the Horner scandal does not appear to be over yet.
"From the outside, we're treated to a lot of drama," he told Osterreich newspaper. "But for a team like Red Bull, a situation like this isn't great."
He thinks Red Bull has handled the situation badly because of today's "very transparent world".
"Not saying everything only makes it more interesting, leading to more questions, more stories, more speculation," Wolff added.
"But there is a real story in the background, and it's the most important one - why did a woman who felt uncomfortable go to HR? Why hasn't anything talked about this yet?
"There's also an information strategy that looks a bit confusing from the outside," the Austrian said. "Generally, I think the Austrians are professional while in England they try to keep everything small, but that's no longer possible these days."
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Shut up Wolff.
Thats what the process is in any organisation, you make a complaint to HR, it is investigated and a decision made. End of story. It has nothing to do with you Wolff. Stop stirring things to keep the story going for your own ends to try to destabilise Red Bull to get Verstappen , Newey , Marko , Wache.
You ard fooling no one trying to say its in the interests of F1 . Just shut up so we have stories about the racing.
Media stop publishinh what he is saying that is harming F1.
Why didn't Horner stand down immediately the complaint was made? In any company the size of Red Bull, that would be automatic.
There is clearly more to come out.
Well not automatically , but yes id agree its a fairly common response for a company for the Ceo to either stepdown , or be suspended while investigation takes place , but its not "Always the case", as this instance shows
Why don't you ask him why?
I'm glad he submitted to the independent enquiry.
If the aggrieved has a civil case or criminal complaint, the media via anonymous friends is not the place to play it out .
I actually hope the original finding is upheld in a legal court and
Horner goes nuclear on every medium, commenter and platform that were the enablers.
This looking for sympathetic investigators or activist courts is pathetic.
More innuendo coming until another empty "bombshell" just before the Australian GP.
Never back down in face of unsubstantiated what's in it for me to go away.
wont be criminal, or Horny would have been interviewed under caution, so its , if anything a civil, "money grab claim IF she goes ahead , hopefully her "legal team will say", you cant win but you could go for a cash shut down If, If, If , Maybe, Maybe, Maybe
Rubbish. Would you just stand down if someone made an unfounded malicious allegation against you?
Will Joss Verstappen be in the RB pit in Aussi???
I don't know how he gets a visa outside Europe
he wont need a visa, hes holidaying
Alone?
This appeal is nothing more than pure spite by J Verstappen against CH who he is clearly jealous of at his sons expense. This woman is probably being manipulated and intimidated by JV who is the only closely linked person to say CH should resign.
Obviously the Thai owner wants him to stay and he has the full backing of the Austrian owners who have exonerated him and sacked the woman. Is there really a power struggle?
Leopold, ask JVs three ex wives what they think of him or the person who’s skull he cracked in a fight. A leopard never changes his spots. Clearly Max is being manipulated and intimidated as well. His first wife had a restraining order on him. His second wife took him to court before she married him and then couldn’t get out of the marriage fast enough.
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