christian horner – Syndication Server

Horner won’t rule out Red Bull approach for Sainz

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says Carlos Sainz cannot be ruled out as an option for 2025 if it opts to replace Sergio Perez next year. Sainz won the Australian Grand Prix just 16 days after having his appendix removed and missing the …

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says Carlos Sainz cannot be ruled out as an option for 2025 if it opts to replace Sergio Perez next year.

Sainz won the Australian Grand Prix just 16 days after having his appendix removed and missing the previous race in Saudi Arabia, while Perez only finished fifth after a grid penalty and then getting visor tear-offs stuck to his floor. The result ended a run of nine straight Max Verstappen victories, and while Yuki Tsunoda again impressed for the junior RB team with seventh place, Horner says Sainz is showing himself to be a strong option on the driver market.

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“I think it’s still very early in the year to even be thinking about next year,” Horner said. “Yuki’s a very quick driver we know that but I think we want to feel the best pairing that we can in Red Bull Racing and sometimes you’ve got to look outside the pool as well. You’ve had a very fast unemployed driver win [in Melbourne]. The market is reasonably fluid with certain drivers.

“Based on a performance like that you couldn’t rule any possibility out, so I think you just want to take the time and obviously Checo was compromised [on Sunday]. He’s had a great start to the season too so we’re not in any desperate rush.”

Sainz is in need of a new team after Ferrari opted to sign Lewis Hamilton to partner Charles Leclerc from 2025 onwards, but his latest success matches Leclerc with three victories each since becoming team-mates in 2021.

Sunday’s victory also ensures Sainz is the only driver to stop Red Bull from winning races since the start of the 2023 season, following his victory in Singapore last year that prevented a clean sweep of victories for the team. Horner says the strength from the Spaniard is impressive but he’s expecting Red Bull to bounce back from the disappointment of Verstappen’s retirement at the next round in Japan.

“Carlos is the only driver that’s beaten Red Bull, so he appears to be our nemesis! But Suzuka is a great track. It’s a track that we’ve always performed well at, it’s Honda’s home circuit and the drivers enjoy it and love racing there so we’re looking forward to going back.”

Horner complainant appeals grievance dismissal – reports

The complainant against Christian Horner, who accused the Red Bull team principal of inappropriate behavior, has appealed the decision to dismiss her grievance, according to multiple reports. Horner was subject to an investigation throughout the …

The complainant against Christian Horner, who accused the Red Bull team principal of inappropriate behavior, has appealed the decision to dismiss her grievance, according to multiple reports.

Horner was subject to an investigation throughout the first part of this year due to allegations relating to his behavior, but after a months-long process Red Bull GmbH opted to dismiss the grievance.

The female employee — who has since been suspended on full pay by Red Bull for what RACER understands to be inaccuracies and concerns relating to the evidence given in the original investigation — was told at the time that she had a right of appeal, and both the BBC and Press Association report that option has now been taken up.

Speaking at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Horner had said Red Bull was moving on from the investigation following the initial outcome.

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“The reality is that there was a grievance that was raised,” Horner said. “It was dealt with in the most professional manner by the group, not by Red Bull Racing, but by the owners of Red Bull Racing, Red Bull GmbH, that appointed an independent KC that is one of the most reputable KCs in the land.

“He took time to investigate fully, all of the facts. He interviewed all of the people involved, together with others of interest. He looked at everything. He had all of the facts. And he came to a conclusion where he dismissed the grievance. As far as I’m concerned, as far as Red Bull is concerned, we move on and we look to the future.”

The BBC also reports that the complainant has lodged an official complaint with the FIA’s Ethics Committee, although the governing body states it cannot discuss specific situations, despite raising the subject of a potential transfer of information of a confidential nature between an F1 team principal and a member of Formula One Management (FOM) personnel in December.

“At the FIA, enquiries and complaints are received and managed by the Compliance Officer, and the Ethics Committee where appropriate,” an FIA statement read. “Both bodies operate autonomously, guaranteeing strict confidentiality throughout the process. As a consequence, and in general, we are unable to confirm the receipt of any specific complaint and it is unlikely that we will be able to provide further comment on the complaints that we may receive from any parties.”

Red Bull GmbH has been approached for comment by RACER.

‘My relationship with Helmut is no issue’ – Horner

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner insists his relationship with Helmut Marko is not an issue, amid speculation about their respective futures. Horner was investigated after an allegation of inappropriate behavior was made against him, with …

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner insists his relationship with Helmut Marko is not an issue, amid speculation about their respective futures.

Horner was investigated after an allegation of inappropriate behavior was made against him, with the grievance being dismissed at the Bahrain Grand Prix. One week later in Saudi Arabia, Marko revealed he was also part of an investigation relating to leaks to the media, and that he could be suspended or opt to leave Red Bull if he wasn’t happy with certain conditions.

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After a meeting with Red Bull executive Oliver Mintzlaff in Jeddah, Marko stated he would be continuing and that a way forward had been agreed, and Horner says that does not have an impact on the pair of them working together moving forward.

“The rumors about suspension was as news to the team as it was to anybody else,” Horner said. “So we were quite surprised to hear that. Helmut is a contractor to Red Bull GmbH so it was an issue between there and we weren’t party or part of that discussion.

“I’ve known Helmut since 1996 and he’s played an important role over the years. That role has evolved over the years, but I’ve known him for a very, very long time and coming up to 81 years of age he’s still obviously motivated about Formula 1 which is a positive thing.

“My relationship with Helmut is no issue. He’s always outspoken but that’s Helmut.”

Horner says the second consecutive one-two finish for Red Bull in Jeddah shows the team has retained its strength as a unit despite the controversies that have made headlines over the past six weeks.

“We’re focused on winning, and that’s what we do. That’s what we’ve done (in Saudi). That’s how we’ve started this season. Obviously, I’m aware of all the noise, but it hasn’t distracted the team from the job and we are one team.

“Now obviously speculation about Helmut is speculation about Helmut. Helmut doesn’t work for me. He doesn’t work for Red Bull Racing, he works for Red Bull GmbH. But I think you can see that there’s a very clear route that he’s looking forward and wanting to continue this incredible winning streak that we’ve been on.”

No individual bigger than the team at Red Bull – Horner

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says no individual is bigger than the team amid speculation regarding the futures of Max Verstappen and Helmut Marko. The ongoing saga at Red Bull took a number of twists during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix …

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says no individual is bigger than the team amid speculation regarding the futures of Max Verstappen and Helmut Marko.

The ongoing saga at Red Bull took a number of twists during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend, with Marko suggesting he could be suspended as part of an investigation into leaks to the media relating to allegations against Horner. After a meeting with Red Bull executive Oliver Mintzlaff on Saturda, Marko stated he would continue in his role, but not before Verstappen had launched a robust defense of the advisor and said his future was heavily linked to Marko’s.

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“Firstly, Helmut is a consultant to Red Bull GmbH, so whatever the discussion was it was between them and not the team,” Horner told Sky Sports after Verstappen’s win in Jeddah. “Max is an important member of our team, a valued member of our team and a wonderful driver, but everybody has a role to play in this team.

“We are a team and no single individual is bigger than the team. That’s the only way you achieve these results.

“[Saturday] was Max’s 100th podium finish, all of which have been in Red Bull Racing cars, and it was his 56th race victory. We move ahead of Williams on 114 victories in what is only our 20th year and this is an incredibly strong team that has strength and depth that is achieving these results.”

Horner denied there was a battle for control of Red Bull, following Marko’s comments and Verstappen’s public show of backing, with Jos Verstappen having reiterated his belief that it is problematic if the team principal remains in his role.

“No, look, no. A lot is made of this stuff, but we are one team and nobody is bigger than the team. This team comprises across the different entities of over 1,400 people and everybody has a role to play, and that’s from the very bottom to the very top. Without them performing you don’t achieve performances like this and unfortunately there has been a lot of speculation this weekend, but once again our focus is very much on track.

“Obviously there’s rumblings and I’m aware of what’s been said, but Max is an important part of this team. He’s our driver and he’s doing a great job. As team principal and CEO, I’m responsible for the running and the operation of this team, so everybody has to do their part. Max is doing his part and everybody else is doing their part.”

RBR’s off-track drama not affecting performance – Verstappen

Max Verstappen says the off-track controversies surrounding Red Bull are not distracting from performances, after taking another comfortable victory in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Red Bull repeated its one-two finish from the first race in Bahrain …

Max Verstappen says the off-track controversies surrounding Red Bull are not distracting from performances, after taking another comfortable victory in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Red Bull repeated its one-two finish from the first race in Bahrain with a similar display in Jeddah, although Charles Leclerc took the point for the fastest lap as he finished third. The result comes amid a backdrop of infighting at Red Bull — with Helmut Marko stating his own future was uncertain on Friday and Verstappen backing the Austrian — but the championship leader is impressed with how resilient the team has proven to be.

“I always said that what is most important is that we work together as a team and that everyone keeps the peace,” Verstappen said. “And that’s what we, I think, all agree on within the team. So hopefully from now on that is also fully the case. Everyone is trying to focus in the same direction.

“And I think the positive out of all this is that it didn’t hurt our performances. 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. I think everyone, even when there is stuff going on or whatever, they’re just very focused on their job as they should be.”

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Verstappen’s victory is his 19th in the past 20 races and sees him reach three figures in terms of podiums, but he jokes that the landmark in his 188th race means he’s missed out on too many.

“It’s 88 missed podiums!” he quipped. “No, of course, very happy with that. But I’m not really a guy looking at the stats, so I’m just happy to hit 100, but I want to continue and just focus race-by-race on achieving the best possible result all the time.

“I think it was a very good race. Of course, after that first stint with the safety car, we had to box. I knew that it was going to be a very long stint to the end, but it was the same for most of us. I think we just managed the pace very well to the end.

“The whole weekend, the car has been performing really well, probably a little bit better than expected, even. And yeah, overall, very pleased to win here.”

Jos Verstappen claims Red Bull ‘will explode’ if Horner isn’t removed

Jos Verstappen has further upped the ante in the ongoing power struggle within Red Bull Racing by saying Christian Horner (pictured with Verstappen Sr., above) needs to be replaced as team principal, or the team “will explode.” The father of …

Jos Verstappen has further upped the ante in the ongoing power struggle within Red Bull Racing by saying Christian Horner (pictured with Verstappen Sr., above) needs to be replaced as team principal, or the team “will explode.”

The father of three-time world champion Max Verstappen, Jos — himself a Formula 1 racer in the 1990s and early ’00s — has been a constant presence throughout his son’s career and is regularly on-site at races within Red Bull, although he is not an employee of the team. A grievance against Horner’s alleged inappropriate behavior towards a female colleague was dismissed after an independent investigation last week, but messages and images purporting to be evidence from the investigation were circulated to senior Formula 1 figures and media the following day.

In a show of unity, Horner walked into the paddock hand-in-hand with his wife Geri on Sunday, and was joined on the grid by Red Bull GmbH majority shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya, but Jos Verstappen says Horner’s position is untenable.

“There is tension here while he remains in position,” Verstappen Sr. told the British tabloid the Daily Mail. “The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”

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RACER understands there was a heated exchange between Verstappen Sr. and Red Bull team members including Horner on Friday night in Bahrain, But when asked about claims that he is behind a campaign to remove the team principal, Verstappen said: “That wouldn’t make sense. Why would I do that when Max is doing so well here?”

Verstappen Jr. won Sunday’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix to secure his 55th career victory — all achieved with Red Bull — and ensure he has not been headed in the drivers’ championship since May 2022. Given his and the team’s recent form, the Dutchman is a heavy favorite to win a fourth championship in a row.

In response to Verstappen Sr.’s comments, a Red Bull Racing spokesperson told RACER: “There are no issues here. The team are united and we are focused on racing.”

Horner had insisted his full focus is on Red Bull’s on-track performance, after starting the season with a one-two result, but acknowledged he has been facing opposition following the conclusion of the investigation.

“My focus is on racing,” Horner said. “What people choose to write is up to them. But my focus coming out of this weekend is on the next race in seven days’ time in Saudi Arabia.

“I’m not going to comment on what motives, whatever person may have for doing this. My focus is on this team, my family, my wife and going racing. I have the support of an incredible family, of an incredible wife, of an incredible team and everybody within that team and my focus is on going racing and winning races and doing the best that I can.

“You can see what it meant to the whole team. Better to do your talking on-track.”

Verstappen keeping faith with ‘incredible team boss’ Horner

Max Verstappen says he has full faith in Christian Horner, calling the Red Bull team principal “an incredible team boss” after taking pole position at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Horner was the subject of an independent investigation instigated by Red …

Max Verstappen says he has full faith in Christian Horner, calling the Red Bull team principal “an incredible team boss” after taking pole position at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Horner was the subject of an independent investigation instigated by Red Bull GmbH at the start of this year, with the grievance against him being dismissed on Wednesday. However, with Thursday seeing materials purporting to be evidence from the investigation circulated to senior Formula 1 figures and media, the situation has remained under scrutiny, but Verstappen continued to back the 50-year-old.

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“Listen, when I look at how Christian operates within the team, he has been an incredible team boss, so absolutely, from the performance side of things, you can’t even question that,” Verstappen said. “So that’s what I’m also dealing with.

“I speak to Christian a lot, and also throughout the weekend here, he’s fully committed to the team; he’s also here for the performance. Of course probably a little bit distracted. But we just focus on the performance side of things, and that’s how we all work together.”

Horner took part in specific meetings with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem ahead of qualifying, but Verstappen says it hasn’t been a distraction for the team.

“From my side — and I think what I can see also from the mechanics and the engineers — we are fully focused on the car and the performance here during the weekend. That’s how it should be, I think, and that’s what we continue to do, because it’s not our business — we’re not particularly involved in that. We are here, we are paid to do our job, and that’s what we are doing and that’s also what we love doing. So that’s what we focus on.”

After securing pole position to kick off his title defense, Verstappen believes he’s facing a season where there will be multiple challengers in qualifying.

“I think it was just a very tight qualifying. I think it was just also very tricky conditions with the wind this whole weekend. Just if you can get the lap together immediately, you can find one, one and a half tenths in a corner, and I think it was good for us in Q2, Q3 — especially Q3 I would say, it improved a little bit more.

“But I think throughout the whole of qualifying, you could see the gaps were super close, and I think you never really knew who was going to be on pole heading into Q3. So I think that was very exciting to see.”

Wolff says Horner investigation must be ‘a process with rigor’

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff (pictured above) says the Red Bull investigation into Christian Horner needs to be “a process with rigor” to live up to the standards Formula 1 wants to maintain. Horner is the subject of an independent …

Horner is the subject of an independent investigation that was initiated by Red Bull GmbH due to allegations of inappropriate behavior, and faced an hours-long hearing nearly two weeks ago as part of the process. Horner has not been suspended while the investigation is ongoing and F1 has stated it hopes “the matter will be clarified at the earliest opportunity.”

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“I think it’s clear,” Wolff said ahead of preseason testing in Bahrain. “Formula 1 and what the teams do, we stand for inclusion, equality, fairness, diversity. And it’s not only talking about it, but living it day in, day out. I think these are the standards that we’re setting ourselves. We live in a global sport, one of the most important sports platforms in the world, and we are role models.

“But having said that, there is a lot of speculation that has been happening over the last weeks, speculation that we’ve heard of, and lots of things that are going on. I think what’s important at that stage is for a process with rigor.

“I think what Red Bull has started, as an independent investigation, if this is done in the right way with transparency and that rigor, it’s something that we need to look at, what the outcomes are and what it means for Formula 1, how we can learn from that.

“We want to talk about racing cars and we want to talk about the sport, rather than these kind of very, very critical topics that are more than just a team issue. It’s an issue for all of Formula 1, and in general for every individual that works out there.”

Horner, who denies the allegations, is due to appear during an F1-organized press conference on Thursday during the lunch break on the second day of testing at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Perez urges team unity amid Horner uncertainty

Sergio Perez says Christian Horner “is a key player” in Red Bull’s success amid speculation regarding the team principal’s future. Red Bull GmbH – the global company that owns Red Bull Racing – has commissioned an independent investigation after …

Sergio Perez says Christian Horner “is a key player” in Red Bull’s success amid speculation regarding the team principal’s future.

Red Bull GmbH — the global company that owns Red Bull Racing — has commissioned an independent investigation after allegations of inappropriate behavior from Horner within the team. Horner reiterated his denial of the allegations, telling British newspapers, “I’m confident in [my innocence]. If I wasn’t I wouldn’t be here,” during the RB20 launch, and Perez wants the team to help maintain continuity.

“Well, I think we just want to go racing,” Perez said. “We want the whole team to stay together because we’ve been so successful, and he will be able to just keep the whole team together and focus on racing.

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“Obviously there are some things out there, but the most important is we stick together as a team. We work well, and the main goal [is] remembering we are here for racing — we are a race team and we love it… and we know that Christian is a key player in our organization.

“Like I say, it’s important all of us focus on what we’re here to do, and what we’re here to do is to win championships and bring the team as forward as possible and that has to be the target for all of us in this organization.”

Horner insisted he will be in Bahrain for the pre-season test and first race despite the ongoing investigation, while also outlining his achievements in charge of Red Bull.

“I’m absolutely committed to this team,” Horner said. “I’ve been here since the beginning. I’ve built this team. There have been highs and lows along the way. We have won 113 races, seven drivers’ world championships, six constructors’ world championships, in 19 seasons. And you know, that’s in the history books now but it’s what lies ahead that’s important. So my focus is on the future.”

Horner admits investigation has been a distraction

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says the ongoing investigation into his behavior has been a distraction during pre-season. Horner has been accused of inappropriate behavior within Red Bull Racing and is subject to an independent …

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says the ongoing investigation into his behavior has been a distraction during pre-season.

Horner has been accused of inappropriate behavior within Red Bull Racing and is subject to an independent investigation that has been commissioned by Red Bull GmbH. With continuing uncertainty about his future while the investigation takes place, Horner admitted it has had an impact but insists the team is united behind him.

“Inevitably, there has been a distraction but the team are very together,” Horner said. “Everybody is focused on the season ahead, so it’s been very much business as normal.

“The support has been fantastic. Obviously my focus is very much on the season ahead, as it has been business as normal. There is an investigation that I’m obviously complying with and working with fully, but that is very much going on in the background whilst preparing for the season ahead.

“I think that the team are gearing up for the season ahead, we’re in good shape and we’re fully focused on going racing. Looking forward to being in Bahrain next week and seeing RB20 run and the one thing that focuses everybody’s attention is the car. We’re very united and together in that focus.”

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Horner dismissed reports that there is a potential rift between himself and the wider Red Bull group.

“We’re very united,” he said. “We’ve always had tremendous support from the shareholders since Dietrich’s [Mateschitz, company founder] passing. The shareholders have been incredibly supportive, and you can see the level of investment there is on campus here with powertrains, with the future of Formula 1, that we’re one team.”

Asked if the investigation has had any impact on his role operationally within the team, Horner stated: “Business as normal.”