F1 News: Christian Horner Scrutiny Remains A Concern For Jos Verstappen - "Power Struggle"
Jos Verstappen has voiced his concerns over the ongoing internal strife within Red Bull, which he believes could persist for some time. This turmoil has cast a shadow over Red Bull's impressive start to the F1 season, despite Max Verstappen's victories.
Key Takeaways:
- Jos Verstappen acknowledges an ongoing power struggle within Red Bull, complicating the team's dynamics.
- Christian Horner, Red Bull's team principal, faces continued scrutiny amid allegations and an appeal.
- The internal discord and legal battles are a distraction from racing, which is the team's primary focus.
Red Bull Press Image
As the Formula 1 circus makes its way to Australia for the season's third Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing finds itself at the centre of a storm that extends beyond the racetrack. Despite a commanding start to the season, with Max Verstappen clinching victories in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, the team is embroiled in controversy surrounding team principal Christian Horner.
Horner, having been exonerated from accusations of improper conduct following an internal review, is now reportedly facing an appeal from the accuser. Meanwhile, it has emerged that there is allegedly a brewing conflict involving Horner, the Verstappen family, and motorsport advisor Helmut Marko. This is despite Horner's assurances of unity and harmony within the team's ranks.
The issue was brought to light once more following Jos Verstappen's triumph at the Ardennes Rally, where he expressed his concerns regarding the ongoing situation within Red Bull. He commented, as quoted by RacingNews365:
"It's certainly hard for the outside world to follow.
"I think it's necessary to get peace within the team, but given the circumstances, I think it will continue for a while. I'm curious, but it doesn't help the whole process."
Red Bull Press Image
When questioned about the existence of a power struggle, Verstappen confirmed its presence, adding an air of uncertainty about the resolution timeline. This internal discord, coupled with Horner's potential legal challenges to remain in his position, is believed to be exacerbating Max Verstappen's frustration, particularly as he continues to be bombarded with questions unrelated to racing.
"There is definitely a certain power struggle going on. We're going to see, I can't say too much about it. I hope peace returns soon and they start concentrating on racing because that's what it's all about. But this is not good."
Jos Verstappen remains focused on Max's performance and victories, noting the strong collaboration between Max and the engineering team. However, he acknowledges the distractions posed by the off-track controversies, highlighting the dual nature of Formula 1, which combines competitive racing with intricate team dynamics and personal relationships. He concluded:
"I don't know what should happen. The most important thing for us is that Max keeps winning, and he does.
"The car is very good, and between the engineers and Max, there is nothing going on, so that is also good. Max knows how to get that part out, too, but he gets a lot of questions about what's going on and he doesn't like that.
"But that's also part of it, the other side of Formula 1."