Sky Sports pundit Martin Brundle has expressed his firm belief that Red Bull's Austrian headquarters would never have dismissed Christian Horner without securing the agreement of the Verstappen camp.
The veteran Formula 1 commentator made these observations in his Sky Sports column following Horner's departure after the British Grand Prix, which ended his tenure of more than two decades with the team.
The Belgian Grand Prix marked Red Bull's first race weekend under new leadership, with Laurent Mekies taking charge following Horner's swift departure.
Brundle highlighted the disputes with Jos Verstappen that had intensified since Bahrain the previous year, meant it was "game over" for Horner's leadership at Red Bull.
Martin Brundle believes that disputes with Jos Verstappen called curtains on his time at Red Bull
| GETTYBrundle stated unequivocally: “When Dietrich Mateschitz, the Red Bull company boss and co-owner, died in 2022, this left a significant vacuum, and like all vacuums it’s been filled by others with ambition, alternative ideas, and egos.
“Dietrich was universally respected and admired, he had a bold vision and presence, he enabled people and then delegated, seemingly always happy to be in the background.
“I followed him into a big Red Bull function in Austria one evening, he was driving his relatively modest car. A team member at the entrance stepped forward to take his car from him, but I could see him politely decline, and he then parked in the nearby field along with everybody else and we walked back. That’s stuck in my mind in a very positive way.
JUST IN: Ben Stokes ruled out of fifth Test between England and India in major blow
“His hallmark was on every Red Bull F1 decision, the majority of which he wouldn’t even know about, but everything was wrapped in ‘what would Didi want/think’.
“The management he structured when he knew his health condition was terminal subsequently wanted significant control, as reportedly did Porsche when a partnership was on the cards around that time.
“Christian wanted full control of what he felt he’d created, and in the best interests of the team in a fast-moving highly specialised business. I rather suspect he overplayed his hand, and once the support of the 51 per cent shareholders Yoovidhya family fell away in the bigger picture, Red Bull Austria HQ parked Christian at the first opportunity.
READ MORE: Tennis chiefs come under fire for 'unlawful' decision on trans players
Max Verstappen and his father are believed to have known about the sacking before it happened
| Getty“Given other events which have played out since Bahrain last year, especially regarding Max’s uniquely powerful and vociferous father Jos Verstappen, it was game over.”
This assessment came after Brundle had previously adjusted his position during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, where he clarified that whilst the Verstappens hadn't orchestrated Horner's removal, they hadn't intervened to prevent it either.
Despite widespread speculation about Max Verstappen potentially activating an exit clause to join Mercedes, the Dutch driver appears set to remain with Red Bull for the 2026 season.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Horner's difficulties intensified through his conflicts with Jos Verstappen, Max's father, whom Brundle characterised as "uniquely powerful and vociferous".
The former team principal's ambition to maintain complete authority over what he considered his creation ultimately proved his undoing, with Brundle suggesting Horner "rather suspect he overplayed his hand".
Once the backing of the Yoovidhya family, who hold 51 per cent ownership of Red Bull, evaporated, Horner's position became untenable.
Laurent Mekies has now taken over as the team principal of Red Bull | ReutersThe new era under Mekies has started with a win in the sprint race for Verstappen, but the main race did not go so well for the team.
There is still a lot of work needed from the new team principal, who will be aiming to put the events of the past month behind the team and focus forward for the remainder of the season.