Oliver Mintzlaff supposedly praised Christian Horner during the Miami Grand Prix due to job security concerns. The controversy surrounding Red Bull and the accusations against Horner caused significant turbulence within the team. Despite being cleared by an independent investigation, new developments in the case emerged, leading to tense relationships and the departure of key individuals. Amidst this chaos, Red Bull CEO Mintzlaff publicly expressed admiration for Horner.
The sudden departure of an influential figure like Mintzlaff surprised many in the racing community, especially the Red Bull team. Over the years, the 65-year-old has led the team to great success. Speculation suggests that the investigation saga played a role in his departure. However, despite ongoing issues, Mintzlaff applauded and praised Horner, believing in his ability to lead the team to success. It is worth noting that Horner is not only the team principal but also the CEO of Red Bull Racing.
However, F1-insider.com revealed that Mintzlaff’s positive comments about Horner may not have been genuine. It is alleged that the German may have been potentially coerced into speaking favorably about his boss. Refusing to comply with these instructions could have jeopardized Mintzlaff’s position at Red Bull for the upcoming season and beyond. Consequently, the 48-year-old falsely praised Horner’s leadership, despite the evident difficulties within the team.
Despite starting the season with a strong performance, Red Bull has already suffered two defeats. The impressive display by McLaren at the Miami Grand Prix, resulting in a historic win for their driver, highlighted the challenges Red Bull is facing. Commenting on the team’s progress, David Croft noted that they seemed to be improving on the track.
Croft also mentioned that Red Bull sacrificed speed in qualifying in favor of improving race pace. However, other teams were also consistently progressing, narrowing the gap with the team based in Milton Keynes. Norris’ comments about McLaren being the fifth fastest team on track, just two tenths behind Red Bull, further emphasized this point. Croft predicted that Red Bull would continue to face challenges from their rivals in the 2024 season.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s star driver, continues to showcase his exceptional skills alongside the team’s dominant RB20 chassis. However, the 2024 season has already revealed that his competitors are closing in on the Dutchman. As a result, the 26-year-old driver will need to push even harder to secure victories throughout the season. However, with his current form and the team’s resources, Verstappen will likely secure another championship victory.
