After “the worst year”: Steiner warns of more battles ahead for Horner – Christian Horner has endured one of the most tumultuous periods of his Formula One career, navigating through allegations from an employee, leaked private messages and an internal Red Bull power struggle that threatened to undermine his leadership.
While the Red Bull team principal has survived these controversies and led his team to another Drivers’ Championship win with Max Verstappen, former Haas team principal Günther Steiner believes Horner’s challenges are far from over.
Steiner, a respected figure in the paddock, acknowledges Horner’s resilience in an exceptionally difficult year, but remains sceptical about Red Bull’s trajectory in 2025. The loss of key personnel, the team’s declining performance and the ongoing scrutiny make the road ahead even more uncertain for the Briton.
The “shittiest year” of Horner’s life
Günther Steiner did not mince his words when reflecting on Horner’s turbulent 2024 season. Speaking to *GPFans*, he praised the Red Bull team principal for enduring what he called “the shittiest year of his life”.
“I think he’ll remember 2024 as the shittiest year of his life, with all the things that happened. So we have to give him credit for that,” said Steiner.
Despite all the turmoil, Red Bull at least managed to defend the Drivers’ Championship with Verstappen, a silver lining in an otherwise stormy season.
However, Red Bull’s performance in the Constructors’ Championship told a different story. Once the dominant force in F1, the Milton Keynes-based outfit has fallen to third place behind McLaren and Ferrari. Steiner attributed this decline to Red Bull’s reliance on just one competitive car, while their rivals had two strong drivers contributing consistently.
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Red Bull’s struggles in the constructors’ championship
“They were up against a McLaren with two good drivers. I’m not saying Checo [Sergio Perez] isn’t a good driver, but he wasn’t last year. That has to be said,” said Steiner.
Perez, who had previously proven himself with race wins and strong performances, failed to deliver in 2024. His struggles saw him finish a dismal eighth in the Drivers’ Championship – a staggering 285 points behind team-mate Verstappen. Such a performance gap was untenable for Red Bull, who ultimately decided to part ways with the Mexican.
“Basically, 2024 was a bad year for Horner to keep the team together,” Steiner concluded. The lack of a competitive second driver meant that while Verstappen could compete for wins, the team as a whole was vulnerable in the Constructors’ Championship.
This vulnerability was exacerbated by the rise of McLaren and Ferrari, who fielded formations capable of consistently securing podiums.
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Red Bull’s off-track challenges: The loss of key personnel
Aside from its on-track struggles, Red Bull faces another crisis in 2025 – the departure of key figures who have been instrumental in the team’s success.
Steiner pointed out that with the departure of design mastermind Adrian Newey to Aston Martin and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley to Audi, Red Bull is losing two pillars of its dominance. Adding to the exodus, chief strategist Will Courtenay is reportedly set to join McLaren by the end of 2025.
“They’re all very good people. As good as Red Bull’s second row is, these people have been there for a long time. They know the team inside and out,” said Steiner.
The biggest challenge will be to replace Newey, whose influence on Red Bull’s car development over the years has been unparalleled.
“Sometimes fresh blood is good, but you need something – replacing Adrian will be difficult,” Steiner stressed.
Red Bull’s ability to maintain its frontrunner status will depend on how effectively Horner can rebuild his team. While the team still has a strong foundation, the loss of key personnel could make it difficult to maintain the dominance they once enjoyed.
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What lies ahead for Horner?
Looking ahead, Steiner believes Horner faces another uphill battle. The combination of internal instability, staff departures and growing competition from rival teams makes for an uncertain future.
“Time will tell what Christian [Horner] can do with it, but I don’t think it’s going to get any easier for him,” Steiner warned.
Despite Verstappen’s continued brilliance, Red Bull are no longer in a position of absolute superiority. With McLaren and Ferrari gaining momentum and Mercedes looking to make a comeback, the next few seasons could prove to be Horner’s toughest challenge yet.
The question now is whether Horner, who has weathered storms before, can steer Red Bull through another period of uncertainty – or whether the cracks in the team’s foundation will grow too large to repair.
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