Last Updated on February 12 2024, 7:32 am
If you believe the established F1 press Christian Horner is fighting for his place as the head of the Red Bull Racing Formula One team. Having been accused of “inappropriate and controlling behaviour” the longest established F1 team principal is mired in a lengthy investigation instigated by the Austrian holding company which owns the world champion constructors.
As TJ13 has previously commented, revelations of this nature usually divulge incremental details following the shock announcement. Yet in Horner’s case no further details of his alleged misdemeanours have emerged despite the F1 press citing unknown sources left right and centre.
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The BBC is reporting that F1 insiders who they have contact with do not expect Horner to survive in his role. The report claims Horner is a powerful and influential man both at Red Bull and in the sport of F1 but has overstepped the mark in how he has dealt with the stereotypical female victim of a white middle aged man in a position of power.
Christian Horner is the longest standing F1 team boss and was recruited in 2004 by energy drinks mogul Didi Mateschitz to revive the fortunes of the ailing Jaguar racing team he acquired. He has steered the organisation from an ‘also ran’ outfit to one that has won seven driver titles and six constructor championships and the team sits on the cusp of being the third most successful F1 team of all time in terms of Grand Prix won.
The genius decision made by Horner in Red Bull Racing’s fledging years was to recruit the greatest F1 car designer, Adrian Newey, to leave his unhappy home at McLaren. Newey was constrained by the then McLaren matrix management system which restricted his artistry and had seen the once great British iconic racing marque become an ‘also ran.’
Under Horner’s leadership Red Bull are now just 13 race wins away from being the third most successful F1 team of all time. Despite having joined the sport 55 years after Ferrari’s debut the team from Milton Keynes is approaching half the total of the Maranello GP victories in less than a third of the number of races entered.
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Laughable charges for an F1 boss
Of course the boss of any uber competitive global sporting entity will require the highest standards and efforts of those working within a 1000 string team of personnel. There will be those who believe they can live the F1 dream but quickly understand the commitment required is not what they are prepared to give.
The charges laid at Horner’s door of being “controlling” are laughable given the lack of direction and control some of F1’s most historic teams have lacked for more than a decade. Ferrari would give their right arms for someone who can control their never ending return to title winning ways.
Yet it appears there is a move to destabilise the most dominant team in the history of the sport and attacking its leader publicly could cause a Red Bull self destruction.
To the allegations, they are spurious in nature and despite early reports of inappropriate pictures being sent the F1 official media have aligned themselves behind the transgression being of an “inappropriate” nature and “controlling behaviour.”
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The fascinating aspect of this all is the lack of investigative journalism attempting to find the source of Horner’s accuser(s).
Theories abound over the power struggle in the Red Bull holding company since the death of the founder Didi Mateschitz. He was the final arbiter in all disputes and over the best part of two decades none of this kind of nonsense ever found oxygen or entered the public domain.
Since Didi’s death rumours have abounded that a new Red Bull parent company officer has been trying to assert himself over the F1 racing team and CEO Oliver Mintzlaff – former boss of FC Leipzig – is looking for personal fame and glory as the figure head of the Formula One team.
As Toto Wolff discovered at the end of last season, spurious rumours are spread within the paddock without foundation or merit, yet they hot the headlines regardless.
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The Mercedes boss was accused of being in receipt of confidential information obtained by his wife who works for the commercial rights owners of Formula One. The FIA initiated an investigation but after strong protest from within the teams, the matter was dropped in less then 48 hours.
Yet the insinuations had been made against the Wolff couple and mud always sticks regardless of the truth.
Horner’s accuser could be from a diverse range of F1 courtiers. His rivalry with Toto Wolff may even raise eyebrows for some.
Yet the Dutch media are now reporting that frictions within the team over issues relating to Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen now point to the world champion’s father as the potential source of the Horner allegations.
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“Badly damaged” relationship at Red Bull
Motorsport-Total.com reports that the Verstappens could be behind the links by suggesting it is “no coincidence” that the story emerged out of the Netherlands via De Telegraaf. It further adds that the relationship between Jos and Horner is badly damaged.
Apparently in the event of a stand off between Horner, the Verstappens and Dr. Helmut Marko, Red Bulls star driver would not back his team principal despite their eight year relationship.
Verstappen was clearly aggrieved in 2022 when the team requested he give way to his team mate and Perez even suggested at his home grand prix that Max would help engineer him a win.
This all boiled over a week later when the team asked Max to allow Sergio through for an extra point in Brazil but the Dutch ace was incandescent over the pit radio refusing to comply.
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Woke HR attitudes give a voice to the lazy
“I told you already last summer. You guys don’t ask that again to me, ok? Are we clear about that? I gave my reasons and I stand by it,” Max Verstappen revealed to the world in the warm down lap.
The rift allegedly originated at the Monaco Grand Prix when Perez mysteriously crashed on the final qualifying run, preventing his team mate from beating the time he’d set.
In reality though, Christian Horner will have alienated plenty of employees over his time in charge of the team given sheer excellence is required from each individual who works for Red Bull Racing.
Of course there will be a disaffected individual who cant’ hack the pace required to work within the sport and in the current climate their voice will be heard.
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Yet whether the source of the leak be the Verstappens or a glory seeking CEO in the parent company, the risk of this manoeuvre threatens the very future success of Red Bull Racing.
The culture in Milton Keynes is one of “us against the world” and there will be many more Horner devotees than haters given the mega bonuses they’ve earned during his tenure at the top.
The likely scenario is the making public of what are fairly minor allegations were intended to force Christian honer to step down. Yet his stoic attitude to driving his team to greatness has seen him refuse to be bowed and as the true fighter he is, no quarter will be given.
The launch of the 2024 Red Bull racing challenger is on Thursday yet for once the F1 tech writers will be eclipsed by the gossip.
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
Whoever wrote this clearly wants to suck Horner’s balls.
Typical attemped power play by someone trying to upset the rythm RBR has. The wording stating that Horner overstepped by the way he handled the stereotypical female victim just makes one think they are trying the race thing and I would not be surprised if Hamilton is behind this with his BLM aggressiveness. Horn has been a thorn in everybody’s flesh due to his ability to strategize well better than the rest. Show me anywhere in the world where a team competing in any sport would succeed without harsh treatment and hard decisions in cases. If people want to play at this level you must accept being driven accordingly or you should bale out. Sad to see so much politics within the F1 arena in the last few years.
I’ve seen it all now. The vast majority of the comments I’ve read over a number of sites either blames the female employee for being too sensitive or woke (whatever that means) to its marko to its jos to its Fred or its definitely Toto, especially Toto and his evil mind. I honestly expected more blame on Lewis from the haters but no, you’re the first. You seem to be more unhinged than all the rest of your jealous brethren. Maybe your tinfoil hat is slipping slightly
It’s also very telling how little blame the man himself is getting in all this. The rich, white, powerful boss is so good at his job either it’s not possible to have happened or he gets a pass if he did…because he’s so good.
This seems more like a storm in a teacup, with very little if any substance to the so-called inappropriate behavior allegation. So someone, a female, has become miffed about Horner’s dealings with her? Is that not resolvable without resorting to destroying a particular team principal’s career?
I agree with you. And I really don’t think Max would allow his father to dictate to him.
A pathetic attempt to involve a racist attitude as justification for your own failings. Hamilton would have no knowledge or inclination to exploit this situation, nothing to gain.
“Of course there will be a disaffected individual who cant’ hack the pace required to work within the sport and in the current climate their voice will be heard.”.
Well you brown nosers have already made your mind up.
Concur.
You don’t achieve what he has achieved without ruffling a few feathers. The general performance of RBR with all round excellence suggests that Horner is also an exceptional manager.
Very sad ! Every dog has its day, but this will undoubtedly damage the company and may signal its demise. Max is truly one of the GOATs but Jos has always been a street fighter and this was why he didn’t make it at the top level. He should be put back in his cage. XL Bully !
Jealousy is a dangerous thing and Jos Verstappen would do anything to oust Horner hoping he could somehow get in. Nasty man. Not a Red Bull fan but this is so obvious it’s his doing!!!
How does anyone know that Horner hasn’t actually overstepped the line with a female employee?
You’re all assuming he’s innocent.
This is the guy who dumped the woman who’d been by his side all the years before fame and had just given birth to his child, for Ginger Spice.
Love him or loathe him he is one of the best team leaders we’ve seen and would be a shame for it to end this way, if true.
Innocent until proven guilty
Mate, there’s “innocent until proven guilty” and then there’s just out and out blaming the little woke woman for not being able to hack it in the cut and thrust of F1.
This article comes across as extremely misogynist
This article is written for or by misogynists. “Woke HR attitudes give a voice to the lazy” . So looking into a female employees concerns is “giving a voice to the lazy?” – you’re suggesting that women and their concerns are “woke”? RedBull and their HR never leaked thie story to the public, nor are they saying that Horner will be fired, that’s just “a source”.
RedBull GmbH “woke HR” have brought in an independent layer to investigate Horner for what have been described by “a source” as “significant”. This article recognises it was likely someone close to the Verstappen’s who leaked the story to turn the heat up on Horner. Yet somehow ends up blaming the potential victim before we know the outcome, and takes some vague shot at the and the “woke” and “lazy” culture of investigating allegations raised by a female employee.
RB were forced to say they’re investigating allegations against Horner because someone leaked it to the press. Horner denies it. The rest is interference. “Controlling behaviour” could mean anything – we may never find what it means either, all we get is to see what RedBull / Horner / Employee do next.
This article is disingenuous at best.
You can’t edit posts here so in my last comment “significant” should be “significant concerns” and there might be an extra “and” in there.
Controlling behavior. I do that every time I drive a car, ride a bike, use a table saw, pound a nail, or make sure I’m not overcharged while shopping. WTF does it man in this case? We don’t know, and this article says pretty much “Shame on the media for not investigating it and telling us.”
Shame on the media indeed.
Christian Horner is a great team leader. If he’s a saint, someone tell the Pope. Otherwise, either give us facts on which we can figure it out, or STFU about it.
Right on! Couldn’t have put it any better.
honestly it’s disappointing to see this level of misogyny alive and well in the article and comments.
do better.
Awww.. this just gets better and better. Now, Verstappen is implicated. Maybe he’ll have to give up driving, too. Having good ‘ol mAXY and Horner gone from Red Bull would be such a fantasy. I only hope this happens. There, they could both retire to Australia and join Michael Masi in a retirement party fit for crooks.
What utter crap
There is a lot of information that hasn’t been aired yet. Good or bad, it is clear that the domination by RB is at the centre of the pit This is a major issue and very important because it may well damage F1 as a whole. The real reasons behind this sick story will come out eventually. I wouldn’t be surprised if the race card is used and then it will point in certain directions. Also the timing of this and the timing of lewis leaving Merc. If this is not handled properly it is sure to enstrange a lot of F1 fans. I for one, a fan for more than 50 years, will walk. I almost left last year, due to the onesided blm uproar.
Please TJ13, stop stirring the spoon! We all need more information over this suspicious allegation. None of the fans know enough to comment properly. Other F1 sites are equally uninformed. To comment on RBR, I would say they have done a brilliant job over the past 19 years & CH has been Team Principal so he obviously takes a lot of the credit for the teams success. There are cracks appearing in the structure of the company since the founder died & this is a big concern. It is all based on an energy drink! The names of Ford, Stewart, Jaguar et al have been swallowed with a Red Bull & Vodka! Let us all wait & see what BS we all have to accept in the riches of the F1 folklore in the coming days.
Speculation, assumptions and contemplation contribute to the media frenzy. It makes sense that the accusations were intentionally leaked to disadvantage Horner (with the most to lose). In most cases as it should be, HR issues are resolved in-house and decisions taken in-house.