Horner Fired

Yeah... it's not just running a team... but there's also Powertrains to contend with as well. I don't know if he's going to be able to handle all of that.

 

Horner, along with Dieter "Didi" Matesich, turned the once defunct Jaguar F1 team which housed 1 building into RedBull campus with several facilities strewn the RedBull F1 area. RedBull have their own Powertrains facility as well. While Horner didn't have part ownership of RedBull, he did alot for RedBull.

This letting go of Horner was simply a power struggle by higher ups. The only thing I don't agree with is "putting all your chips" on 1 very highly talented driver while others fail to keep up. F1 isn't about 1 driver "hogging" all the points IF you're going to win the WCC standings. Yes, the WDC title carries more weight but to build a team, it's not just about 1 driver and just 1 car for that 1 driver.

 

I had to look “ficisious” up. I don’t think that word exists.

 

I meant facetious.

 

DM gave CH nearly complete control of the team and all of his support. Once DM died, the feeding frenzy for power was inevitable. I'm surprised Horner lasted this long.

RB lost a massive amount of talent in this stupid power grab. Newey, Horner, Max is likely gone, too. They will have to rebuild the bulk of the leadership of the team.

Lastly, I am surprised they didn't demote Horner to Racing Bulls just for laughs before letting him go.

 

Kind of amazing to go from being #1 team to being a backwater. Next year is going to be even worse, then they'll lose Max. They've essentially thrown away the entirety of the power structure in RB in just a few moves. The people they have lost were in positions that are the hardest to fill.

It's an easy bet that Max is now at least 3 seasons away from another WDC. Fortunes change pretty fast!

 

There needs to be a documentary on the downfall of Red Bull Racing. To go from the most dominant F1 season ever in 2023 to an absolute trash can in less than 2 years during a budget cap era is unfathomable.

 

The name of that documentary: "RedBull didn't give Horner wiings"

 

Netflix "Drive To Survive" Season 14 will be ready...

 

Does Horner not deserve credit for allowing Newey to be <well> Newey ?!?

 

Verstappen could have won his last WDC last season.

Staying at Red Bull or going to another team will never give him the same opportunities in future, IMO.

 

GP Blog — And then there's a final point, one that could just make Alpine not an option for Horner. Starting from 2026, Mercedes will supply engines to the French team. The Mercedes of, yes, Toto Wolff. It is well known that the Austrian and Horner do not get along, so perhaps Wolff will say: ‘With Horner involved, no engine deal’. Of course, this is speculation.

 

If I was in Christian Horner's shoes, I would leave F1 completely.
At 51, he has achieved everything, certainly more than many, and has very little chance to repeat it.
I would look for different interests and enjoy life far from this cesspit.

 

Even Claire Williams can't leave F1. She's gone to therapy for it to get it out of her system. She thinks about it every single day.

I believe she has some role in F1 currently as an ambassador role for WAE.

 

At first I thought Maxine and Co gave RB the ultimatum of choosing himself or Horner and Horner lost. Now I think Maxine is definitely leaving to Merc and that was the last straw for what little remaining support Horner had from the Thai faction of RB and at that point as a whole RB unanimously decided to cut ties with Horner.

 

She feels guilty for ruining the family F1 team.

Can't says I blame her.

 

Yep, she carries that weight with her every day.

 

You certainly could be right, but I think if Max gets even the 2nd best car he has a good chance of winning another title. At the moment during the budget cap era, the cars are generally separated by just a tenth or two in outright pace. McLaren have some trick that seems to keep their tires cool, I doubt that lasts forever. So if you put Max in a car that's within a couple of tenths of the best car, he can win races for sure.

Look back to 2020. The Mercedes W11 had one of the largest speed advantages in modern F1 history, one of the most dominant cars ever. Max in the distant 2nd best car had 2 wins, 11 podiums (6 2nd place finishes). 11 podiums in the 12 races he finished (2.43 average finish). And he's a better driver now than he was in 2020.

I think if Max was in the 2025 Mercedes, he would be right with the championship leaders, perhaps even leading considering the McLaren drivers often take points off each other.

 

It's not only about the car, but adapting to a new team with different culture, strategy, methods, having different engineers to deals with, etc ... Racing in F1 is very complex these days, and when changing team, there is a transition period, with new codes to learn, fitting with the people around you who prepare your car, etc ...
In the meatime nothing stands still around you: teams that were doing well last year have improved during the inter-season, newcomers are showing talent, etc... Each season presents a different scenery.
Max has been driving for a few years the best car in the field in the best team, until it declined.
He may never find again the same conditions, and chase another title for the rest of his career.

 

And Max knows Toto and Mrs Wollf have enormous influence to get special treatment.

 

Her father ruined the team, and then passed it on to his daughter.
Williams' troubles started when Frank broke the association with BMW who was financing his team.
That was years before Claire was involved in the management.

 

and he was super cheap. as long as he made money he wasnt worried.

 

Agree. This is exactly what Carlos said in a recent interview about himself and Lewis. Each surrounded by a team that has been focused on the veteran driver. The newcomer has to adapt because the car existed before the (new) driver. Min has proven he is a top tier driver. Adaptable to a car outside his 'specs'? I'll take the under.

 

Horner is eyeing a 50 million Euro settlement from RedBull since his contract ends in 2030.