Red Bull have rejected suggestions that Christian Horner could be sacked ahead of the Australian Grand Prix after reports of team shareholders meeting in Dubai on Sunday night.
Horner’s position as team manager has been the subject of intense speculation after he was accused of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ by a female employee before the start of the 2024 season.
An investigation cleared Horner and it appeared he would retain his position at the team before alleged messages to the complainant were leaked to a number of media and F1 figures.
Adviser Dr. Helmut Marko then revealed that he was considering leaving the team before the allegations of leaking evidence Horns‘s behavior – with Max Verstappen vocal in his support for his mentor, claiming he ‘couldn’t continue’ without the Austrian. Marko then insisted he would not be leaving the team after fractious talks.
Horner’s ex-Spice Girl wife Geri Halliwell has continued to publicly support her husband, appearing at both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix events.
Red Bull have denied claims they could sack Christian Horner ahead of the Australian Grand Prix in two weeks’ time
Red Bull majority shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya was another visible supporter of Horner during the Grand Prix
Reports claim that Yoovidhya met with Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff in Dubai on Sunday night
Majority owner Chalerm Yoovidhya had been a supporter of Horner throughout, but a report by German outlet F1-Insider.com claimed he was now inclined to sack the team principal.
But on Sunday night, after another dominant display in Saudi Arabia, where Verstappen romped home to his second race win of the season with Sergio Perez again close behind, the team denied Voovidhya had turned on the 50-year-old.
The German outlet reported that the 51 percent majority owner of Red Bull was now aligned in his view with fellow shareholder Mark Mateschitz and Oliver Mintzlaff, who failed to remove the pit boss.
“As Christian has said, he is grateful for the full support of the shareholders and that continues to be the case,” a Red Bull spokesman said.
According to the Telegraph, Yoovidhya met with Mintzlaff in Dubai on Sunday, with the alleged topic believed to have been the next steps in the ongoing saga at the team.
Yoovidhya had shown his support publicly for Horner earlier in the season and personally turned up for the opener in Bahrain with his partner.
Marko told the Dutch newspaper The Telegraph on Sunday that he had considered walking away even before the Horner controversy blew up.
“I hope it will all be over as soon as possible,” said the 80-year-old Austrian.
The 73-year-old and his family have a net worth of around £26 billion, according to Forbes
Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko (left) said he would not be suspended by the Formula One team after being accused of leaking evidence of Horner’s behavior
Horner, pictured with wife Geri Halliwell, was cleared of ‘coercive behaviour’ towards a female employee before messages allegedly exchanged between the pair were leaked
‘I was already thinking about leaving at the end of last year, but I also think we should think about Dietrich’s (Mateschitz, the Red Bull founder) legacy, what his ideas were and where they took us. We owe him that.’
De Telegraaf also reported that Marko had planned to fly back to Europe from Saudi Arabia with Horner, but instead chose to take a private jet with Verstappen.
Suggesting he was clear after his chat with Mintzlaff, Marko said: ‘We decided that these rumors (about the leak) were spread and had no legal basis. I will not be suspended.
‘Our goal is to win the World Cup. For that we have to work hard.’
Verstappen impressed again on Saturday, triumphing in Jeddah for his second win in a week as he begins the 2024 season in the same way he ended 2023 – in dominant fashion.
He made no bones about his feelings about the situation with Marko, openly claiming that he would fight to stay at Red Bull without him.
Before Saturday’s race, however, Verstappen told Sky Sports F1 it was ‘absolutely’ good news that Marko’s future seemed to be settled.
Asked if he would really consider walking away, Verstappen added: “I’ve always said the most important thing is that we work together as a team and that everyone keeps the peace.
Max Verstappen was ferocious in his victory on Saturday for a second consecutive race victory to start the 2024 season
Dutch superstar Verstappen has called for ‘peace’ at Red Bull with the scandal-ridden team
Horner was seen keeping Halliwell close in Jeddah as Red Bull cruised to another win
Marko (left) with Verstappen (second left), Horner (second right) and Sergio Perez (right) after Red Bull claimed another victory in Saudi Arabia on Saturday
‘And that’s what I think we all agree on within the team. So hopefully from now on that will also be fully the case.
‘Everyone tries to focus in the same direction. And I think the positive thing about all of this is that it didn’t hurt our performance. So it’s a very strong team.
“I think also mentally, what you can see from not only the driver’s side, but also mechanics, engineers, everyone is there to do their job.
“And I think everybody, even when there’s stuff going on or whatever, they’re just focused on their jobs, like they should be.”
Verstappen’s father Jos has been one of the more vocal figures calling for Horner’s sacking, claiming the team would ‘explode’ if he was allowed to remain in his post.
“The team is in danger of being torn apart,” he told Mail Sport exclusively. “It cannot continue as it is. It will explode.’
Then these revealing pictures emerged of the pair involved in fierce confrontation after qualifying on Friday night.
According to his subsidiaries, Horner believes Verstappen Snr has been orchestrating a campaign to oust him for the past few weeks, meaning the Dutchman may even have had a hand in the email leak. Verstappen Snr denies having had any role in the leak.
Jos (along with his son Max) told Mail Sport that Red Bull would ‘explode’ if Horner retained his team-leading role
Both Verstappen and Horner were seen waving their arms during their discussion behind closed doors
The Dutch star driver also admitted he would always ‘be a team’ with his father, and the driver is believed to have a clause written into his contract that Marko’s departure allegedly paves the way for his own exit.
Horner’s charges were suspended by the team following the KC-led investigation, although reports have suggested they may be set to appeal the verdict that acquitted him.
Red Bull’s current engine manufacturer Honda had called for transparency amid the “sex text” scandal after his accuser was suspended for “dishonesty”
The Australian Grand Prix is not for two weeks and the Telegraph also reports that there is a separate investigation underway into leaks over the past few weeks.