JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – MARCH 09: Max Verstappen, from the Netherlands, driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20, makes a pitstop during the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 09, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
The way the situation at Red Bull Racing has unfolded over the past month has been absolutely shocking. It all started with the investigation led by Christian Horner, which had far-reaching consequences. This was followed by the dramatic events involving Max and Jos Verstappen, and then by the brief investigation into the actions of Helmut Marko.
However, despite claims that Oliver Mintzlaff and his colleagues at Red Bull GmbH called for calm during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the overall situation within the reigning Formula 1 team is far from resolved. The suspension of the female complainant by Red Bull Racing, along with their decision to appeal the company’s verdict, will certainly cause more turbulence. It is important to note that the parties involved in this conflict are not backing down.
While all of this has been widely covered by various media outlets, it is disheartening to see that some reports lack professionalism and journalistic integrity. It seems that nowadays, using words like “alleged” or “reported” grants a license to say anything, regardless of how ridiculous, inaccurate, or sensationalist it may be, all based on unidentified and unverified sources.
However, this article aims to take a different approach, examining the Red Bull puzzle from another perspective: how and why did the situation reach this point?
Over the years, Red Bull has proven to be a well-organized team that excels in all aspects. Even when their cars were not competitive in terms of power units, all other departments worked perfectly, including the drivers, strategies, pitstops, and race execution. In short, they were a cohesive unit.
When the new “ground effect” regulations were introduced in 2022, Red Bull finally had the best package, with fast cars being the missing piece of the puzzle. As a result, they dominated the sport for two consecutive years, breaking records. Even in 2024, they continue to maintain a solid performance.
Red Bull’s management has been efficient and effective. Christian Horner oversaw the day-to-day operations and team development, while Helmut Marko managed the driver talent group and engaged in political maneuvers. Adrian Newey had the freedom to do what he does best: design fast cars. Jos Verstappen’s influence was also kept under control.
Mercedes, Red Bull’s main rival, also adopted a similar management structure, with Toto Wolff and the late Niki Lauda operating in a comparable way to Horner and Marko.
Everything was going well, with each individual focusing on their specific tasks and responsibilities. However, at some point, things started to change. It seems that certain people within the team, especially those in high-ranking positions, began to observe what their colleagues were doing and started to exceed their limits.
This clue or feeling emerged recently when the Editor-in-Chief, Paul Velasco, and I were discussing some articles about Marko discussing drivers – Verstappen and Sergio Perez, then Daniel Ricciardo – and we remembered how skillful (although ruthless) the Austrian is in identifying, analyzing, and managing drivers. A characteristic of his that has been overshadowed recently, as he has become part of the deceptive actions behind the scenes at Red Bull.
The conversation then shifted to how exceptional a manager Horner was, building Red Bull Racing from the remnants of the Jaguar operation in Formula 1, and now experiencing the team’s second successful period in its relatively short history.
And while Jos Verstappen deserves recognition for developing Max into the driver he is today, whether we agree with his methods or not, he should not interfere in the team’s strategic decisions as he did in Monaco-2022, when he claimed the team favored Perez over his son, and recently in his involvement in the controversy with Horner, calling for his departure – we can only imagine how much more he did during his lasting presence that was not disclosed.
Although I have previously said that keeping a team united and focused during a period of success is not easy, but something that Horner and company have achieved, it seems that, and this is just a guess, all the success has led to complacency and perhaps restlessness, that individuals started to try to do more than they should.
Horner’s saga with the female employee – regardless of what actually happened – shows that the British man made a mistake, which would not have happened if he had been completely focused and attentive.
The fact that Marko was involved in the whole situation also shows that he was not innocent in the entire problem, and the deplorable state of the Red Bull driver development program indicates that the focus of the Good Doctor (borrowing this from Sean Stevens at GrandPrix247) is not entirely on identifying talent.
Do I need to mention something about Jos The Boss? Max deciding who stays and who goes so he can continue driving for Red Bull is also a Champion’s overtake.
Now I may be mistaken here, but one revelation was the most recent season of Drive To Survive. Now, the Netflix series has become a bit monotonous, but the sixth season revealed some intriguing highlights, and not just at Red Bull.
Horner seemed to be in charge when it came to Ricciardo’s return to AlphaTauri (now RB), and he even informed Liam Lawson that he would not receive a full-time seat, despite his impressive performance as Ricciardo’s substitute when the Honey Badger accidentally injured his hand during practice at Zandvoort.
Horner was talking to Ricciardo’s manager and RB CEO Peter Bayer, with Marko nowhere to be found. Maybe Marko didn’t want to appear on the show. Maybe he discussed this with Horner beforehand? But maybe Horner was exerting his influence on these decisions, and we know how much he favors Ricciardo.
Horner may have a say in who drives for Red Bull, but does his authority extend to the Faenza-based junior team?
I don’t know, but these are valid questions that could be crucial to understanding how Red Bull Racing has unraveled.
Everyone at Red Bull should go back to their respective roles. This approach clearly worked. Horner should focus on managing the team, while Marko resumes his role of identifying and nurturing talents, not to mention the occasional malicious comments he makes – classic Marko behavior.
As for Max, he should simply focus on pushing the limits of a machine designed by Newey. On the other hand, Jos should go back to doing what he does best, well, let’s not get into that, and maybe he shouldn’t either, but one thing is certain, he should stay as far away from the Red Bull box as possible.
Simply put, the Red Bull staff should stick to their areas of expertise, but it is probably too late to undo the damage.
© 2024
An experienced and talented racing driver thrilled the crowd at this year’s Formula 1 Grand Prix. With impressive skills behind the wheel, he clinched the victory and became a fan favorite. His incredible performance left everyone in awe.
The driver, known for his determination and passion for the sport, once again showed why he is considered one of the best. He dominated the track from the start and left no chance for his competitors. His speed and agility were impressive, leaving all other competitors in his dust.
In addition to his driving skills, the driver is also admired for his charismatic personality. He always has a smile on his face and is very approachable with fans. During the podium ceremony, he made sure to thank everyone who supported him and dedicated the victory to his team.
With this win, the driver solidifies himself as one of the great names in Formula 1. His promising career is only set to grow, and fans can’t wait to see what he will do next. Certainly, he will continue to surprise us with his skill and determination.
The Grand Prix this year was an exciting event from start to finish. In addition to the driver’s victory, there were many moments of action and adrenaline. Fans cheered at every overtake and rooted for their favorite drivers.
The fierce competition between the teams was also a highlight. Each team showed their best performance and fought for the win. Engineers and mechanics worked tirelessly to ensure the cars were in perfect condition.
In the end, the talented and determined driver was crowned the winner. His victory is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport. He is truly an example to be followed by all Formula 1 enthusiasts.
The next Grand Prix promises to be even more exciting. Fans are eager to see more action and thrilling races. With talented drivers like this, there is no doubt that the sport will continue to surprise and delight us.
