Last Updated on March 17 2024, 11:17 am

The first of the Formula One teams’ race weekend personnel will have been arriving in Melbourne over the weekend and the story of the Red Bull Racing 209245 season saga looks set to run and run. However, the old music is also changing and it appears the team will harden its position further.

It has been believed for some time that Christian Horner has only the backing of majority shareholder, Chalerm Yoodivhya. Yet the Express now reports once Horner had been cleared by the internal enquiry, the Austrian contingent represented by CEOs Franz Watzlawick, who runs the core energy drinks business.

 

 

 

Red Bull issues outstanding

Last time out in Saudi Arabia it was revealed that Christian Horner’s accuser had been suspended, but as always throughout the past ten weeks, Red Bull Austria remain thin lipped over there matter. The female had appointed new lawyers who recommend she appeal the decision by the KC, but this could be no more than wishful thinking and all about making some legal fees.

Yet for her to be suspended, again provides the narrative Red Bull have an investigation ongoing into the propriety of the evidence provided together with the integrity of some of those involved.

With the Red Bull corporate infighting resolved as the Express reports, it may be thought the matter is soon to leave the F1 headlines and be replaced by on track excitement.

But a number of issues remain outstanding. The accusers appeal, the accusers suspension, the fact a complaint appears to have been made to the FIA and what is happening to Max Verstappen?

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Verstappen/Marko trio isolated

The fissures within the Red Bull organisation appear not to be binary in form. It hasn’t merely been the Austrian’s trying to oust Horner and on the other side is the Thai majority shareholder – with Dr. Helmut Marlo, Jos Verstappen and Max weighing for one side or the other.

In fact the Verstappen/Marko trio have been attempting to set the agenda so its all about Max and Jos outbursts about Christian Horner led credence to the suggestion that he has also been ‘involved’ with the female accuser at some point. Jos originally claimed in Bahrain if Horner stayed he would be ‘tearing the team apart.’

This was swiftly denied by Sergio Perez who told assembled media that he and the team were firmly behind Horner. 

“I think not only my support, I think the full team is fully behind him. He’s obviously a great guy. He’s a very important person in our organisation. The job that he’s done over the years speak for themselves. I think Christian is a key team player in this organisation. I think he’s fully focused on the racing side,” said Checo.

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Max credits Marko for RBR success

Contrast this with Max’s perspective that it was Dr. Helmut Marko who was responsible for the success of Red Bull Racing. “He has built this team together with Dietrich [Mateschitz] from day one. And he’s always been very loyal to the team, to everyone within the team, to make sure that everyone would keep their positions already from back in the day,” claimed Max.

With the self confessed threat of suspension handing over Marko in Saudi Arabia, Max voiced further support for his Austrian mentor.

“It is very important we keep the key people together because I feel if such an important pillar falls away, that’s also what I’ve said to the team, that is not good for my situation as well. So yeah, for sure, for me, Helmut has to stay,” Max insisted.

The response from Christian Horner was swift and no nonsense. He told Sky Sports: “Obviously, a lot is made of this stuff. But we are one team, and nobody is bigger than the team.”

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Jos Verstappen in fighting mood

By asserting his authority, it appeared Christian Horner had put the matter to bed, but Jos Verstappen complicates things further by then offering his sympathy to the female accuser, making it more difficult for the Red Bull Garage to offer him hospitality.

Further Jos ridiculed Horner’s claims that a line had been drawn under the matter: ”I think it’s a bit too late for that now. If that’s what he [Horner] wants, fine, but I don’t think it will be possible,” he said.

The threat of Max leaving Red Bull opened up a whole pandoras box of questions over who cold replace the triple world champion and where would Max go?

With the appeal made by the female accuser outstanding and her suspension as yet unexplained, as the team arrives in Australia the saga is set to continue for at least another weekend.

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Verstappen’s manager warned

However, the tide appears to be moving in favour of the Verspappen/Marko trio being backed into a corner given the express reports Raymond Vermeulen – Max’s manager – has been informed the company is ready to replace Max if necessary.

This following the revelations Max has a clause in his contract which means should Dr. Marko leave the Red Bull organisation, then so can he. The big question is whether in Melbourne we see a conciliatory Jos Verstappen, or one dead set on ensuring the saga rolls on and on.

As has been discussed here already, verstappen has no real choices given Mercedes are one second a lap off the pace of his Red Bull in race trim at present. Even a driver of Max calibre will struggle to overcome such a handicap and so when all is said and done, this was an empty bluff anyway.

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FIA may be investigating

One further matter may now prolong the Red Bull saga and this follows reports that the FIA have received a complaint allegedly about Christian Horner’s behaviour. 

However a statement from F1’s governing body now reads: “At the FIA, enquiries and complaints are received and managed by the Compliance Officer, and the Ethics Committee where appropriate. Both bodies operate autonomously, guaranteeing strict confidentiality throughout the process. As a consequence, and in general, we are unable to confirm the receipt of any specific complaint and it is unlikely that we will be able to provide further comment on the complaints that we may receive from any parties.”

This is a shift in the FIA’s recent response to rumours about Toto and Susie Wolff, where they did confirm there was an ongoing investigation, which comically only lasted a mere 36 hours. 

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