F1 pundit downplays ‘power struggle’ rumors at Red Bull amidst Christian Horner’s inappropriate behavior saga

Red Bull could have done without the ongoing controversies ahead of the all-important 2024 F1 season.

F1 pundit downplays ‘power struggle’ rumors at Red Bull amidst Christian Horner’s inappropriate behavior saga

Helmut Marko, Max Verstappen and Christian Horner (Via: IMAGO)

The Red Bull F1 team was in a very good place heading into this year’s 2024 F1 season. But since the revelation of the inappropriate behavior allegations against Christian Horner, there have been rumors circling a power struggle taking place on the Austrian team.

Christian Horner recently met with the independent investigator who was appointed by Red Bull’s parent company (Red Bull GmbH). Moreover, the staff of the F1 team was kept in the dark regarding this, and the news was only released to a few media outlets.

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The lack of proper communication between the Austria-based Red Bull GmbH and the F1 team has led to rumors running wild around there being a power struggle. But, this is not the case as per Sky Sports F1 pundit, Craig Slater.

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While shedding light on the same recently, he said, as reported Mirror.co.uk:

The guidance I've had from Milton Keynes is that it's not a battle between Salzburg and Milton Keynes for control of this racing team. Dietrich Mateschitz... passed away a few months ago and since then Oliver Mintzlaff, the former RB Leipzig executive, has been running the general sporting operation. But it has been explained to me like this, it would be old-fashioned that an investigation like this would be governed by a power struggle going on elsewhere.

Christian Horner’s potential sacking could throw the whole Red Bull operation into utter chaos

While rumors about there being a power struggle at Red Bull have been played down, if its team principal, Christian Horner, is ultimately sacked at the end of the ongoing investigation, it could lead to utter chaos on the team.

Christian Horner
Christian Horner (Via: Imago)

It has recently come to light that there are chances of Red Bull’s CTO, Adrian Newey leaving if Horner is sacked. If this certainly becomes a reality, the Austrian outfit might be looking at an extremely challenging 2024 F1 season.

Horner and Newey are the main pillars around whom the Red Bull operation has revolved for many years. Considering this, it will be fascinating to see what decision-makers around the Red Bull F1 team would do if Christian Horner is indeed found guilty of the allegations. Tough times are ahead for the whole Red Bull group.

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