Red Bull are in a position to let Max Verstappen pass if they are forced to do so between the three-time world champion and long-suffering team boss Christian Horner.
It’s the incredible view from inside the long-suffering Formula 1 team. Horner, husband of Spice Girl Geri, has spent the last six weeks fighting for his future, but now it turns out that the temper at Red Bull’s headquarters has tilted in his favour.
Horner was accused of inappropriate behaviour towards a colleague. The 50-year-old has been cleared of misplaced behaviour through a Red Bull investigation, but that’s not the end of the story.
She feels so aggrieved by the remedy the company has given her that she has now appointed a new lawyer and is happy to see the final results of the investigation through an external, independent KC whose identity has not been made public.
The parent company suspended the woman, she insists it was not for filing a complaint, but because of considerations about the veracity of the evidence she presented. In the meantime, Horner continues to race and prepare for the Australian Grand Prix.
The situation came to a head in Bahrain a fortnight ago. Verstappen’s father, Jos, has publicly called for Horner’s departure, while former team advisor Helmut Marko also wants the Briton gone, as his relationship with Horner has disintegrated.
For a time they were believed to be in control of Red Bull executives in Austria, while Thailand’s majority owner, Chalerm Yoodivhya, protected Horner. But it is understood that the team director now also has control of the company’s other shareholders following the final results. of the research.
This includes Austrian CEOs Franz Watzlawick, who runs the core energy drink business, and Oliver Mintzlaff, who is in charge of corporate projects, such as his F1 teams. And their strength is so strong that, if they feel compelled to decide between Verstappen and Horner, they are in a position to fool the Dutchman.
According to sources, the driver’s director, Raymond Vermeulen, has already been informed that the company is in a position to take him if necessary. And Marko has worked hard to create a scenario where it may be needed.
We understand that the 80-year-old adviser, who acts as a director of the company, worked late last year to insert a “safeguard clause” into Verstappen’s deal that would release the driver from his contract if Marko left. “They’ve been made without the wisdom of applying to the racing team or parent company,” Horner adds.
Watch all the Formula 1 action on Sky Sports and get exclusive access to races, qualifying and more for each and every Grand Prix. From Max Verstappen to Lewis Hamilton, you might not miss a lap on Sky Sports.
Verstappen has already publicly threatened to terminate his contract, which runs until 2028, if Marko leaves the company. And, while he has not publicly accepted his father’s stance on Horner being sacked, the Dutchman insisted that Verstappen senior was “not a liar”.
Red Bull desperately needs to end the civil war that has completely engulfed it and overshadowed its strong start to the F1 season. It would appear that this week’s talks between key figures have been positive and may be only the first step towards a truce.
The team, Horner, Marko and Verstappen’s father have a common goal: for the Dutch driver to be a four-time world champion until the end of this year. Another stimulus for their cooperation is their common enemy, Mercedes, especially as team principal Toto Wolff was pleased to shake things up amid the crisis between their bitter rivals.
Get email updates on the day’s highlights