With such high stakes and the sole desire to be victorious within Formula One, as a sport its bound to be riddled with speculation between teams and rumours when a team begins to fall behind previous performance. Considering all of the scandal and intrigue surrounding Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner, cracks are beginning to show. Let us catch you up on the state of reigning champions.
February 2024
Before the season could even begin, Horner became the main focus of the sport and not for the right reasons. Reports surfaced that a female Red Bull employee told the organisation’s parent company that Horner had engaged in “inappropriate controlling behaviour.” As the leaks made their way on to the internet, all eyes were on Red Bull to address the situation. Their chosen conclusion to this scandal was to suspend the female employee who accused Horner of misconduct with full pay.
Coincidentally, following on from this, a couple of vital Red Bull team members have announced their departure. This includes:
Adrian Newey
After 19 successive years, Newey, at the age of 65, finally decided to leave the team. The renowned designer and current Technical Director of the team will leave in the first quarter of 2025, marking the end of a remarkable almost two decades tenure. His departure is a significant blow to Red Bull Racing, where he has been pivotal in securing 13 world titles since 2006.
Jonathon Wheatley
Around two months later, Sporting Director Jon Wheatley announced he will be leaving the team as he moves on with Audi, who will feature as a team on the 2025 grid. With Audi, Wheatley will take on the role as Team Principal. Red Bull say Wheatley will remain in his position until the end of the 2024 season, before entering a period of gardening leave in 2025.
What is the plan for Perez?
Not to be forgotten, number two driver, Sergio Perez, will continue with the team after the summer break. Instead of rising to the occasion after signing a two-year deal, Perez went into the summer break on the back of a nine-race streak without a podium finish. Slumping to seventh in the Drivers’ Championship, while McLaren close in on Red Bull in the Constructors’, Horner declared that Red Bull “cannot run on one leg.” (Planet F1, 2024)
Written by Millie.
Featured Image Credit: bbc.com
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