Christian Horner, the Red Bull Racing team manager, maintains in his employment when the F1 2024 season begins, despite the parent company’s probe into his alleged behavior lasting another week.
Speaking at last week’s RB20 unveiling, Horner denied all charges against him and conceded that the inquiry is causing a distraction for the race team as they prepare for another F1 season.
While the incident is being investigated, all parties involved stay tight-lipped about the facts, while rumors circulate about the nature of the claims and how the inquiry is progressing.
On the BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast, journalist Andrew Benson and McLaren Formula E driver Sam Bird addressed how the probe could affect Red Bull in the coming season and beyond, regardless of the verdict.
“It’s going to be a distraction for the team in as much as I think it’s really damning for people involved with the team, so sponsors and potential sponsors,” Bird remarked in regards to the scenario.
“It’s not good for your image, is it? For your team manager to be accused of the things he has been accused of is, to put it mildly, disturbing for Red Bull.
“However, I don’t believe it will have any effect on their track performance.
“Max is not going to get into his car at Red Bull and think, ‘Oh, I wonder what’s going to happen with Christian and the allegations.'”
“Adrian Newey hasn’t thought about it in eight months because he’s been working on this beauty of a car that may be scintillatingly fast when it hits the track in a few days.
“This car has spent many months in the workshop, being created and honed. They had the most spectacular year last year, and they have a huge advantage over everyone else.
“I believe they will continue to win this year. So I don’t think there will be much of a change in Bahrain; I believe Red Bull will continue to lead.
However, Bird suggested the consequences could be felt later in the season, especially if any sponsors opt to distance themselves from the Red Bull F1 team.
“I think that things will start to happen later on in the year and next year if partners leave, if sponsors leave,” he went on to say.
“If Adrian Newey or any other team members quit as a result of the allegations.
“I believe it is business as usual when it comes to putting the car on the track: Max Verstappen gets in the car, and Max Verstappen delivers. But what occurs behind closed doors, and six to twelve months later, with important personnel on that team?
“That will be extremely, incredibly intriguing. I’ve heard that Helmut Marko has a contract with Red Bull, but am I correct in saying that it expires at the end of this year?
“He’s not pleased about it. That’s what I’ve heard; he was really irritated that it was up after a year. According to what I’ve heard, he and Christian are severely battling right now. He no longer has an ally in Christian, and Christian, in turn, has no ally in him.
