Red Bull have been warned that as long as Christian Horner retains the position of team leader, he will only “damage” Red Bull, but Max Verstappen will leave the team and Toto Wolff will be the “big winner”.
Although Horner witnessed an investigation against him through Red Bull’s Salzburg parent company, Red Bull GmbH, following an allegation of misplaced behaviour, the case is by no means over.
24 hours after Red Bull GmbH’s statement, the team boss is back in the news after an email was leaked that allegedly involved the main points of the investigation.
This was followed a few days later by a public altercation between Horner and Max Verstappen’s Jos, after which the former F1 driver addressed the press and called for Horner’s resignation.
It has to be said, there is no respite in sight for the team leader.
And the consequences, according to former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, may simply be disastrous, and Verstappen could even leave Red Bull for Mercedes.
“If Christian Horner clings to his seat with all his might, it will not only hurt Red Bull, but it will also cause Max Verstappen to leave the team,” he told the Krone Zeitung.
“I see it as very critical.
“What we’ve realised at the moment is that the team that’s been around for the last decade, with Mercedes, is destroying itself from within.
“I think Toto Wolff is there as a spectator with a wonderful joy. He can come out on top. “
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Verstappen has been largely connected to Wolff’s Mercedes team amid the saga, with the Telegraph claiming that Verstappen could simply leave Red Bull for Mercedes to upgrade Lewis Hamilton, reporting that Jos and Wolff have been seen talking to Baharin several times.
The three-time world champion, however, shrugged it off.
Asked if he was sure about ending his contract with Red Bull, which runs until 2028, Verstappen replied: “It was, of course, the target to sign. That’s why we signed for so long to be here. “
“And of course it’s about the functionality of the car and from 2026 it’s a question mark with the new regulations.
“But I knew that, when I signed my contract, I also knew what they had done for me in my career, right?So yes, of course, the goal for sure is to stay in this team, because I like it. “
“And I’m also very satisfied within the team. So as long as we’re playing, there’s no explanation for leaving.
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