Martin Brundle revealed what happened to Christian Horner before he was fired from his role as Red Bull Team Principal.
Red Bull fired Horner following a dismal British Grand Prix because the team had become increasingly divided, according to Craig Slater on Sky Sports News. Red Bull gave no public reason for Horner’s departure.
Horner took charge of Red Bull in 2005, leading them to six Constructors’ and eight Drivers’ Championships. They have been the premier team in F1 in recent years before the recent rise of McLaren.
Sky Sports’ Martin Brundle revealed what Horner was told about his sacking.
Martin Brundle reports ‘no reason was given’ to Christian Horner prior to Red Bull sacking
Brundle, speaking on Sky Sports News, reported that he had spoken to Horner, and was told that the former Red Bull boss was not given a reason for his firing.
He said, “He did tell me no reason was given to him, and that’s the only hard information on that.”
He added, “I don’t think it’s completely out of the blue, given things that have been going on. The problems in the team and the words we’re getting out of team Verstappen and others.
“It’s not been difficult to feel in the Formula One paddock, and to hear and observe, that things were not particularly rosy.”
Red Bull has lost a number of key personnel since their dominant 2022 season, including legendary aerodynamicist Adrian Newey and Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley.
Their car’s performance has been on a steep downward trajectory since, leading McLaren boss Zak Brown to speculate if their sister-team, Racing Bulls, were faster than Red Bull.
Brundle, a nine-time podium winner in F1, said he was saddened by the news.
He explained, “I’m quite sad about it really, I consider Christian a friend and he’s done an incredible job there for 20 years. Won an awful lot of races and world championships for the team.
“He took it from a Jaguar that was struggling, to a massive campus in Milton Keynes, and an awful lot of success, and a huge trophy cabinet.”
Horner’s departure leaves huge questions about the future of the team, including whether four-time world champion and Red Bull legend Max Verstappen will stay.
Martin Brundle thinks Christian Horner’s firing makes Max Verstappen ‘more likely to stay’
Verstappen’s Red Bull future has been speculated on for weeks, after there were reports he was considering a move to Mercedes.
That was in part due to frustrations about the leadership of Horner, which stemmed from his father, Jos Verstappen, in particular.
Brundle confirmed this, saying, “I think it makes it more likely that Verstappen will stay there. It became quite personal between [Horner] and team Verstappen.”
Verstappen has an exit clause in his contract based on Red Bull’s performance come the end of July. He will most likely have the option to leave at the end of the month, but Brundle thinks that is now less likely.
He continued, “Does this mean he’s more likely to go, or more likely to stay? I can only surmise that he’s more likely to stay.”
With the drama brewing, new Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies has a big job on his hands.