Bernie Ecclestone, the former head of Formula One, has made it clear where he stands on Christian Horner’s Red Bull situation.
Claims that Bernie Ecclestone ordered Christian Horner to resign as head of Red Bull have been met with criticism. An ongoing investigation into claims of inappropriate behavior, which Horner himself denies, has put the team principal’s future in jeopardy.
Red Bull reportedly hired an independent attorney to question Horner for eight hours last Friday. It is thought that the meeting was held at a secret location apart from the team’s factory in Milton Keynes.
Red Bull has now received the findings, but Horner’s future remains unclear despite the company’s Austrian headquarters’ promise to treat the charges “very seriously.”
It was recently reported that Ecclestone had “advised Horner to step down,” with the first Grand Prix of the season scheduled in less than three weeks and the RB20 unveiling just one day away.
Ecclestone and Horner have a long history together; in 2005, when Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz was searching for a team principal to lead his new Formula One organization, the former suggested the latter.
“To clarify reports by newspapers that I had urged or suggested Christian Horner should step down from his position at Red Bull-they are entirely UNTRUE,” Ecclestone wrote on his Instagram story, making it clear where he stands on Horner’s future.
When Red Bull CEO John Ecclestone married former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell in 2015, Horner served as best man at Ecclestone’s third wedding.
According to Red Bull insiders, Horner may continue to serve as the team principal for several weeks while the drama plays out. Horner has held this position for nearly 20 years. Overseeing a period of immense success, the 50-year-old has guided Sebastian Vettel to four world titles and Max Verstappen to three more.
After winning the championship the previous season, they will be overwhelming favorites to win the top honors in 2024. Verstappen and Sergio Perez, his Red Bull teammate, have combined to win 21 of the 22 Grands Prix that are available.
When racing this year begins in Bahrain early next month, teams like Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari will be hard to catch.
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