Despite attempts to shift the narrative, Formula 1’s media blowtorch has been firmly focused on the dismissal of one of its premier team principals; Christian Horner.
Red Bull Racing announced, after the fact, that Horner would no longer be in charge of its eponymous race team. However, it gave no reason for such an abrupt and arguably untimely decision.
Nature abhors a vacuum, and we humans thrive on gossip. Following this black swan announcement, and the absence of a credible explanation, it’s no wonder the news has resulted in the F1 equivalent of a game of Cluedo.
The Players
There is no news story here. This was Team Verstappen (predominantly Jos, the Good Doctor, and the Austrian shareholders) versus Team Horner (Christian and the controlling board shareholder and supporter—Chalerm Yoovidhya).
“Whydunit?”
Allegedly, it was all about Horner's management style, something that was brought to the forefront by the inappropriate behaviour scandal that dogged him early in 2024.
Whilst legally, the accusation could not be made to stick, reputationally, it was another matter. The suggestions have been that his exonerated “behaviour” was the reason that all the team’s star performers were leaving—more of an excuse to leave a ship that was already sinking, than a reflection of their moral compass.
Like a soothsayer, Verstappen Senior prophesied the team would detonate. It didn’t, Red Bull et al then went on to win the Drivers’ Championship. However, with key players continuing to leave the team, there’s no doubt that it was losing its Teflon ability to weather the McLaren challenge.
Meanwhile, short of a board majority, the Austrian/Dutch contingent were unable to force him out, and Jos melted into the F1 background, until now…
“Whodunnit?”
Looking back at Silverstone, Jos’ sudden re-emergence from the shadows to publicly argue with Horner is no surprise. Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff apparently made the decision to relieve Horner of his duties as Team Principal, one that he was previously unable to make while Christian enjoyed the support of Mr. Yoovidhya.
However, what Jos almost certainly knew, but Christian didn’t, was that the Thai businessman had apparently sold his controlling two per cent. Team Verstappen now had board control.
Probable cause
When you look at Horner’s record, it’s ironic that his management style, which served the team and Verstappen so well over the years, was suddenly called into question.
However, the ancient Greek historian Thucydides gives us some insight into the reason: power and fear, although for F1 we can also add ego to the mix.
Arguably, the death of Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022 was when the unravelling of Castle Red Bull began. The Good Doctor, a man with no official position but immense influence and control, had not only lost a friend but also his source of authority.
As the main sponsor of Max, it meant the Verstappens had lost their power and control too. Christian Horner was now the ultimate authority and decision maker.
Dirty Washing, washed
The ensuing public team squabble around the scandal would have been reputationally uncomfortable for any large corporation. Key players leaving is commonplace in F1, and deteriorating performance is part of any team's performance cycle.
However, getting rid of Horner would be a way of finally washing a tarnished image—something that would be necessary before selling the team to, say, the Ford Motor Company.
All speculation, of course, but who stays if that happens, is another matter…
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