Red Bull chief wants 'to get rid of Christian Horner quickly' as F1 power struggle laid bare

Red Bull chief wants 'to get rid of Christian Horner quickly' as F1 power struggle laid bare

WATCH NOW: Geri Halliwell 'devastated' over Christian Horner's allegations as Red Bull open investigation

Lewis Winter

By Lewis Winter


Published: 27/02/2024

- 11:16

Updated: 27/02/2024

- 11:17

There is reportedly discord among the owners of the soft drink company

Red Bull co-owner Mark Mateschitz reportedly wants Christian Horner to leave the company 'quickly' amid the ongoing investigation process.

Mateschitz owns 49 per cent of shares in the energy drinks company but majority shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya, who owns 51 per cent, is said to still be backing the team principal.


Horner is expected to learn his fate by the end of Wednesday after he denied allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague.

The saga is widely expected to reach a conclusion before the first Formula One race of the season at the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend.

Christian Horner

Red Bull co-owner Mark Mateschitz reportedly wants Christian Horner to leave

Getty

Horner has continued working as usual in recent weeks as Red Bull get ready for the 2024 campaign.

But it has cast a cloud over the team's preparations, with the 50-year-old making his first public appearance at the car launch on February 15.

Horner denied the allegations when speaking to the media and refused to comment on the process at testing in Bahrain last week.

A report from Sky Sports says the investigation has concluded and the report is complete, with a decision to be made public on either Tuesday or Wednesday.

Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, who first broke the news that Horner was under investigation on February 5, claims that the report will be discussed by Red Bull chiefs at their headquarters in Austria today.

The same report says that there is a power struggle at Red Bull among the owners.

It is claimed that Mateschitz, son of the late co-founder Dietrich, would 'prefer to get rid of Horner quickly'.

However, it is said that Yoovidhya has 'always protected' Horner throughout the process.

Red Bull immediately launched an independent investigation after the female employee complained about Horner early in February.

Horner underwent a lengthy interview with an independent barrister on February 9, where he was grilled on the matter at a secret location in London.

The 50-year-old denied the allegations when speaking to the media at Red Bull's car launch.

At testing, Horner apologised for not being able to shed more light on the saga.

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Mark Mateschitz and Christian Horner

Reports say Mark Mateschitz would prefer to 'get rid of Christian Horner quickly'

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He said: "As you are well aware there is a process going on which I form part of, and as I form part of that process, I am afraid I cannot comment on it.

"I am dreadfully sorry but I really can’t comment on the process or the timescale.

"Everybody would like a conclusion as soon as possible. But I am really not at liberty to comment about the process.”

Ford will provide the engines for Red Bull from 2026 and the company's CEO Jim Farley wrote a letter to the F1 team last week demanding a quick resolution.

Christian Horner

Christian Horner is expected to discover his Red Bull fate this week

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He wrote: "As we have indicated previously, without satisfactory response, Ford’s values are non-negotiable.

"It is imperative that our racing partners share and demonstrate a genuine commitment to those same values.

"My team and I are available at any time to discuss this matter. We remain insistent on, and hopeful, for a resolution we can all stand behind."

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