"Horner's Exit No Assurance for Red Bull to Retain Verstappen"

As the fallout from Christian Horner’s sudden dismissal as Red Bull’s team principal continues to ripple through Formula One, questions remain over whether the upheaval will be enough to convince Max Verstappen to stay with the team.

Horner’s removal on Wednesday after two decades of leadership and significant success seemed driven by a key objective: preventing the four-time world champion from leaving. Red Bull GmbH appeared willing to sacrifice Horner to retain Verstappen.

The decision to part ways with Horner followed nearly two years of internal conflict and aligned with the wishes of Verstappen’s camp, notably his father Jos, who had openly expressed dissatisfaction with the team principal.

While allegations against Horner regarding inappropriate behavior toward an employee had initially caused controversy, they were dismissed after an independent investigation. However, the underlying issue—Red Bull’s declining performance—was likely the real catalyst for the decision. The power struggle may be over, but the core challenges remain.

Verstappen’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, emphasized this after Horner’s exit: “We want better results to get back to the top. That hasn’t changed.”

The situation is clear. In 2023, Red Bull dominated, winning 21 of 22 races—one of the most commanding seasons in F1 history. Yet now, Verstappen scraped to last year's title and currently trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 69 points. The team sits fourth in the constructors' standings, largely due to Verstappen’s 165 points compared to his teammate’s seven.

The downturn is closely tied to the car’s struggles, which Verstappen has openly criticized. Despite efforts, performance hasn’t improved. Since Adrian Newey left for Aston Martin in 2024, balance issues from that season have persisted into 2025, exacerbated by rivals’ progress.

While Newey’s departure isn’t the sole cause, it has undoubtedly played a role. The current technical team, led by Pierre Waché, has yet to resolve these problems—a concern for Verstappen. Newey’s 2022 car was tailored to Verstappen’s preferred front-end handling, delivering dominance for two years.

But as competitors closed the gap, Red Bull’s development struggles became apparent, with the car’s flaws and shrinking performance window growing more severe. The once-commanding machine now struggles to keep up.