Red Bull Racing are the most successful of the ‘new’ teams in modern Formula One history. The Milton Keynes based outfit was formed from the ashes of the Jaguar F1 racing programme which was Ford’s last foray into the pinnacle of motorsport.
From the turn of the millennium until 2004, Jaguar Racing competed in F1 although the top down management from the US stifled much of the flair and capabilities of the engineers whose best efforts could only see them finish a lowly seventh in the constructors’ championship. The team was sold to Red Bull energy drinks mogul, Didi Mateschitz, for the 2005 season.
The infrastructure back at base left a lot to be desired, yet the newly appointed Christian Horner who had bio F1 experience quickly assembled a team around him which went on to claim both F1 titles just five years later. This success continued into 2013 giving the new rowdy kids on the block eight titles in just four years.
2024 hatchet job on Horner fails
As in all sport, the dynasty was smashed with the arrival of Mercedes and their uber dominant V6 Turbo hybrid and it was eight long year’s before the ‘dogs’ of the paddock were to rise to the top with Max Verstappen in 2021.
As the power units were frozen in 2022, Red Bull again took advantage of the new ground effect regulations, with double title winning seasons that year and in 2023. As the F1 car regulations mattered, Red Bull found it more difficult to steal a march on their rivals, although Max won the drivers’ championship last season in the end with relative comfort.
Yet the start to 2024 for Red Bull was clouded by off track fighting between the Austrian’s in the parent company and Christian Horner together with majority shareholder Thai businessman, Chalerm Yoovidhya. Efforts to oust the man who created the Red Bull Racing team were made as allegations of his alleged “inappropriate behaviour” were leaked to the media.
Horner was categorically cleared twice of the complaint and peace broke out as the Austrian’s were forced to accept the will of the Thai businessman that he remain in charge of the team. Yet the matter was far from resolved long term, with the antagonists retaining their places on the board of the Red Bull parent company.
British media hype over Red Bull boss future
Matters were complicated by the loss of Adrian Newey, the Red Bull engineering talisman, although in reality he had not designed a complete F1 car since back in 2017. With a new set of exciting regulations coming in 2026, Newey appeared upset at the fact he was only allowed to play a bit part in the team’s overall engineering and design function.
His wife took to X claiming “bullshit” following an interview given by Horner which stated Newey was just a part of the design team and that others had made significant contributions to the success of the Red Bull car designs.
With a ceasefire called by Yoovidhya, the Austrian’s retreated to fight another day and with a date set for an employment tribunal in January 2026, it appeared Horner was safe until maybe then. Yet a difficult start to the year for Red Bull and the dismal choice of driver to replace Sergio Perez being exposed, once again Horner is now back in the firing line as rumours are being promoted he is about to lose his job as team principal.
The British media are today propagating the story, that Horner will be replaced after the upcoming Grand Prix in Emilia-Romagne Italy. With just one win from six this year, Red Bull are on the back foot despite Max Verstappen claiming more pole positions than either of the McLaren drivers. Yet as Dr. Helmut Marko stated early this year, the team are merely focusing on delivering Max a record breaking fifth consecutive drivers title in 2025, whilst the constructors’ title has almost been conceded already.
Horner’s alleged replacements – “laughable”
Verstappen is still in the fight for the drivers’ title but now some 32 points behind McLaren driver Oscar Piastri. Yet if 2024 taught us anything, with Max winning seven of the first ten Grand Prix and then a suffering a ten race weekend drought, its early doors to be making predictions over who will lift the drivers’ trophy vote the end of the season.
The news splashed across the British media today is based on Austrian broadcaster OE24’s recent report that Red Bull have been discussing potential successors to Horner. Yet as was the case in the “inappropriate behaviour” allegations last season, the crafting of the tale appears to have been done on the back of a cigarette packet with Horner’s successors the most unlikely of candidates even to those with a mere modicum of F1 understanding.
Oliver Oakes is star candidate number one, even though he suddenly walked away from his job following his brother being arrested on criminal charges. Oakes has run junior racing team Hitech successfully, but his eight month tenure at Alpine suggested to many that job was too big for him.
Red Bull even bother to comment
Even his inability to pronounce “th” properly and instead using the childlike “f” as a replacement meant his gravitas from day one was undermined. Then his failure to reign in the extravagances of Flavio Briatore whilst placing his own stamp upon the French owned racing team would suggest in the cauldron of Red Bull Racing, he would be consumed in a moment.
Next up to allegedly replace the Red Bull chief is 69 year old Austrian, Franz Tost, who led Red Bull’s second team on the grid for many years. Yet this is an absurd suggestion as even the Austrian collaborator’s should know, given he was dismissed from the team and replaced by Ferrari’s Laurent Mekies and CEO Peter Bayer, who have overseen the rebuild of the team’s infrastructure from the bare bones they inherited.
Of all the breaking F1 news stories this year, this is utterly laughable. Even Red Bull have now confirmed there is no truth to the story than putting out the usual ‘no comment.’ line.
F1 future – ‘not in the USA’ says F1 boss
MORE F1 (SATIRICAL) NEWS – Red Bull/Ford develop the ‘most powerful F1 engine ever’ for 2026
A press release passed my inbox over the weekend from Red Bull and Ford, so here’s my Judge’s hot take on their big news just in – Red Bull and Ford build Frankenstein’s monster: F1’s most terrifying engine of 2026 is coming for everyone – In a development that has every rival team blinking twice and every FIA official reaching for the rule book, Red Bull and Ford have joined forces to build what they’re calling the most powerful F1 engine in history. The rest of us just hope it doesn’t become sentient and start demanding a driver’s salary.
With Honda politely ghosting Red Bull after a complicated on-again, off-again relationship, the team decided to move on like any jilted lover would – by reuniting with a big, loud American. Enter Ford, a brand with a deep racing heritage and a burning desire to be relevant again in something other than truck adverts.
Together, they’re not just building an engine. They’re building the engine. The one your parents warned you about. The one that comes with its own weather system and may need its own postcode…. READ MORE ON THIS STORY
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.
