High-Stakes Drama Unfolds: Horner's Battle for Red Bull Control
Mar.6 - The scandal engulfing Christian Horner and revealing the depth of a power struggle at Red Bull looks set to race on throughout and beyond this weekend's Saudi Arabian GP.
On one side of the divide is Red Bull's 51 percent Thai owner, headed by Chalerm Yoovidhya, who rushed to Bahrain last weekend to back the embattled Horner.
But on the other side of the obvious power struggle is the minority shareholding Austrian faction, who actually run the energy drink company.
And they, backed by Jos Verstappen and Dr Helmut Marko, will have their own board-level support on site in Jeddah this weekend, in the form of Oliver Mintzlaff - the new Red Bull co-CEO in the wake of Dietrich Mateschitz's late 2022 death.
Since Mateschitz died, transferring his 49 percent stake to his son Mark, the Austrian and Thai sides have apparently struggled to collaborate - including Yoovidhya apparently vetoing the Austrians' push to oust Horner.
"Mintzlaff is expected in Saudi Arabia this weekend," the major German daily Bild reports. "It will be a visit that will be followed with great excitement both internally and externally."
Jos Verstappen will not be in Jeddah due to a rallying commitment, but - like much of the F1 world - he was in Dubai this week. World champion Max Verstappen's father predictably did not invite Horner to his 52nd birthday party, but Marko did attend.
For his part, accused not only of an inappropriate relationship with a female team staff member but also of trying to wrestle control of the team away from the Austrians, Horner sat down for a meeting with Max's manager Raymond Vermeulen.
One source said the meeting, attended by other high-ranking Red Bull officials, "went well" - but the Austrian newspaper Osterreich believes "not much is said to have come of it".
Lawyers representing Horner, meanwhile, reportedly threatened legal action against what they claim was an "unlawful" feature in Business F1 magazine this week, in which the female staff member was actually named.
"The piece is littered with inaccuracies and is subject to legal complaint," a Red Bull spokesperson is quoted as responding to The Telegraph newspaper.
The team's 2026 engine partner Ford is publicly uncomfortable and angry about the Horner scandal, and even existing supplier Honda now has concerns.
"We have not received any direct explanation from Red Bull regarding this matter," Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) boss Koji Watanabe told the Japanese outlet as-web.jp.
"I believe what we want is transparency," he said. "HRC also hopes that this issue will be resolved as soon as possible. We have a meeting coming up, so I think we should mention it."
Amid the scandal and the turmoil, Dr Helmut Marko insists the actual F1 team is still "continuing to function well".
"When it comes to the track, everyone is fully focused and knows what they have to do," he told Speed Week. "All disturbing noises are blocked out."
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So, what do we actually know.
What we now know was a spurious claim was made against CH for reasons we don’t know.
CH was completely exonerated after a thorough legal investigation.
Further unsubstantiated and highly dubious ‘evidence’ was concocted by an anonymous third party.
With a total lack of any case against him, his obviously strong contractual position and the full backing of the Thai majority shareholder of Red Bulll,CH is in no danger.
But. For sure heads will roll and the press should be digging out the plotters.
It’s about time Max did some disowning, Checo could probably win a world championship if Max went elsewhere!
I hope Marko realises that if he goes from Red Bull it will be into retirement. No other team will want him.
It is just plain stupid for Jos to be trying to upset a winning team.
I think Max realises he is in the best car and he wants to win. The best car may change in the future particularly 2026.
If it is true that if Horner stays then Marko goes ( no real loss ) , the Verstappens go( a big loss at this time with Max going ) and Newey goes ( a huge loss ) then Red Bull will be in trouble and Horner may still be there but not in a winning team.
Why is their this power struggle going on. Don't change s winning team.
As for Horner and the female employee thats between him , that woman , and Geri. That sort of thing happens in all big companies can't stop it as it humans working together with their human frailties and imperfections.
On Horners record on any measure he has been very successful 7 x driver WDS's.
You would think if there was a problem with his management style fractures in tbe team would have been apparent long before now.
This controversy with Horner is just being used as an excuse in the power play. Why can't they all coexist when they are a winning team and so successful. Very short sighted self interests.If Marko is trying to gain more control that is ridicolous as with his age he should be thinking about retirement.
All my humble opinion.
Any body with a different opinion feel free to exptess them but just know that I just express my opinion and don't read any replies.