Who’s who in the war that shattered the pristine image that Red Bull built for years in Formula 1

What would have been first? The chicken or the egg? The complaint of an employee of Red Bull contra Christian Horner for “inappropriate conduct” was the last straw that was needed to focus attention on the head of the team that dominates this era of the Formula 1 or it became the perfect excuse for the fierce internal From the bowels of hell will they explode in public?

The concrete thing is that since the beginning of February this affair scandalous at Red Bull, The domino effect of this all against all is very strong.

Horner denied the allegations. TO Max Verstappen He looked more serious than usual. This is Wolff, Christian’s nemesis, took advantage and threw darts: “We defend inclusion, equality, equity, diversity. And it’s not just about talking but about living it day by day.” Joseph, the father of Mad Maxlaunched in the press: “You are playing the victim when you are the one causing the problems. If he continues (by Horner), the team is going to explode.” And she spoke heatedly with him at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where Christian arrived hand in hand with his wife Geri Halliwellwith whom the British yellow press had a picnic.

Horner was relieved when the employee’s complaint was dismissed, ultimately suspended from work. To the sports advisor Helmut Marko They accused him of having leaked everything, he denied it and found himself in the crosshairs. “If Helmut leaves, Max leaves”was heard in the box from Red Bull. And to make matters worse, there is now talk of an internal dispute between the majority shareholders of the energy drinks company, of Thai origin, with the minority shareholders of Austrian origin.

Luckily Verstappen and Sergio Perez They gave two “1-2” to the team in Sakhir and Jeddah, where the power of their cars proved unattainable for the rest of us mortals… and the irons. So much so that at the beginning of its twentieth season in Formula 1, Red Bull accumulates six constructors’ championships and arrived in Saudi Arabia at 115 wins. Not only did he pass Williams by one to climb to fourth place, but this year will surpass Mercedes’ third placewhich awaits the inevitable with 125 wins.

Paradox of these times: the image carefully built over years with results, communication policy, design of excellence and drivers with balls falls apart in days when a gear gets stuck and reveals that in reality there was not only a lack of lubricant but a real union.

Over rained, wet. How Wolff will be left without Lewis Hamiltonwho will wear red in 2025 Ferrarievery time he can the 52-year-old Austrian puts in trouble to see if he breaks the Verstappen-Red Bull wedge, linked until 2028 by contract. “I would love to have Max, because there is no team that wouldn’t go for him,” she said. Horner – good animal He – responded: “It is natural that all teams have that desire to hire the best driver. Every team would like to have Max, but the best drivers always want to be in the best cars”.

Until then, everything is fine. But… “Max is an important and valuable member of the team,” he noted as if it were necessary about the three-time champion, who with 56 Grands Prix is the third winningest driver in F1 history. In Jeddah he reached nine wins in a row and 36th in the last 46 races. The talented and temperamental one is unappealable.

But the emboldened Horner wanted to speak and unleashed another cataract of speculation. “He is a wonderful driver, but we are a team and no individual is bigger than the team. This team has 1,400 people and each one has a role to play.”

And when he was asked in Saudi Arabia if he is sure that Max will fulfill his contract, at first he seemed confident, but then he said something inevitable: “It’s like anything in life: you can’t force someone to be in a place just for a piece of paper. If someone doesn’t want to be on this team, we’re not going to force them. That applies whether you are a mechanic, a designer or anyone in this business.”

And since this is a big sports and entertainment business, the interests are so great that the truth can be constructed to taste, especially if rumors are planted or notes are given on purpose to make topics on the agenda visible. Here it happened just like that, from the manual.

Several reports in the specialized press, mostly British and German, spoke of Marko’s position was in check for a day before Jeddah for holding him responsible for leaks about the “Horner case”.

Before the race, on the Austrian public broadcaster ORFMarko rejected the accusations and hinted that they wanted to sink him. “I’m happy just to have my iPhone half controlled. I have deliberately stayed out of it. “Associating myself with that was almost a planned and cunning operation,” said who after meeting with the executive director of the parent company Red Bull GmbH, Oliver Mintzlaffterminated the run-run.

Horner is happy with Chalerm Yoovidhyathe heir of Chaleo, the Thai who created Red Bull together with the Austrian Dietrich Mateschitz. That’s why he’s still in his position. He ignored the rumors about Marko: “At 80 years old, he is still motivated by F1, which is positive. My relationship with Helmut is not a problem. He is always frank. I don’t really know where the rumors came from. It’s not something I’ve been involved in.”.

But the team leader has the field marked. Jos Verstappen insisted on a rally in Belgium that “it is very important that Helmut stays on the team” and told the Daily Mail: “I sympathize with the woman (complainant and suspended). Christian has the support of the Thai owner, so I think he will stay for the rest of the season”.

Honda, the Japanese firm that supplies engines to Red Bull, wants everything to be pristine around the team. AND Fordwho will join forces with the team in 2026, also does not want lola.

Furthermore, according to BBC Sportthe request for transparency from the Milton Keynes-based team reached the British Parliament, where Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labor opposition, was clear: “When accusations are made, they must be taken seriously.”

The work environment at Red Bull Racing is beautiful, isn’t it?