CHRISTIAN HORNER’S fate my have been sealed after a frosty interaction with Red Bull’s owners in Austria, reports claim.
Horner was sensationally SACKED by Red Bull with immediate effect after 20 years as team principal on Wednesday.
GettyChristian Horner reportedly endured a cold reception at the Austria Grand Prix[/caption]
Shutterstock EditorialChalerm Yoovidhya holds the majority 51 per cent stake in Red Bull[/caption]
Horner has faced a turbulent 18 months on and off the track, after the sexting scandal over inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague leaked in March 2024.
The Brit, 51, has had several rows with Jos Verstappen, father of star driver Max, since the fallout, with several high-profile figures quitting the team, including legendary chief designer Adrian Newey.
Reports of hostility among Red Bull’s team have continued to grow even after Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing by an internal investigation.
And there has been reports of a growing rift between Horner and Red Bull’s Thai owners, who chose not to sack him after the scandal broke.
F1 journalist Joal Lischika reported seeing the owners greet Horner “coldly” in the hospitality unit at the Austria Grand Prix weekend in June.
The Yoovidhya family, through Chalerm Yoovidhya, holds the majority 51 per cent stake, while the late Dietrich Mateschitz’s son, Mark Mateschitz, inherited his 49 per cent share.
To make matters worse Red Bull suffered its worst home race result in recent history, with Max Verstappen crashing out after three laps after being hit by Mercedes No2 Kimi Antontelli.
Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda had a particularly difficult time, being lapped twice on his way to finish dead-last of those who crossed the chequered flag.
Max Verstappen was wiped out by Kimi Antonelli in Austria
AFPDespite reports, Horner and the majority owners put on a show of unity as they posed for pictures in the paddock in Austria[/caption]
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Four-time world champion Verstappen, 27, qualified down in seventh, while Tsunoda finished qualifying in P18.
Despite reports, Horner and the majority owners put on a show of unity as they posed for pictures in the paddock in Austria on June 29.
But according to Lischika, there was apparently a growing feeling that Horner simply held too much power, after taking charge of operations during Red Bull’s inception in 2005.
Horner, married to Spice Girl Geri Haliwell, was chairman of Red Bull Racing, Red Bull Technology, Red Bull Power Trains, and marketing.
The owners have since appointed Laurent Mekies as the new CEO of Red Bull Racing, stepping up from the Racing Bulls team.
Horner reportedly had another row with Jos at Silverstone on Sunday, according to former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher.
Schumacher told the Boxengasse-podcast: “There was another argument or a heated exchange, at least visually and verbally between Jos, Christian Horner, and the press officer.
“You could see that Jos was anything but happy with the situation”.
Geri and Christian appeared hand in hand at the Bahrain Grand Prix after the scandal broke
It comes after a series of rows between Verstappen Snr and Horner, with the Dutchman repeatedly calling for Horner’s dismissal after the sexting scandal broke hours before the Bahrain race in 2024.
Horner’s wife Geri was reportedly devastated by the scandal, but stood by her husband in showing signs of solidarity at key races.
In total, Horner won EIGHT drivers’ championships and six constructors’ titles.
For the first time ever, a new team principal, Mekies, will lead Red Bull at the Belgian Grand Prix on July 27 after a three week break.
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