Formula 1 Rumor: A major new twist in the Horner-Red Bull saga

As an update to the rumor below – more information on Horner’s plan to buy the team. Horner reportedly plans to make Adrian Newey a part owner, which means he is not going anywhere.

And if Newey stays, Verstappen is not going to leave the team to drive a wanker-mobile.

As for Ford leaving, doubtful once they find out Horner might be buying the team he built from almost nothing.

Christian Horner and Adrian Newey in Bahrain. Has Horner made Newey an offer of partial ownership in the Red Bull F1 team to ensure he stays on? You can bet on it.

Flavio Briatore in Bahrain trying to work out a deal for his driver Fernando Alonso with Christian Horner should Verstappen depart?

March 4, 2024

The latest rumor making the rounds on what’s behind the movement to try and oust Red Bull Team Boss, Christian Horner, was not on our Bingo Card.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

According to FormulaPasssion.IT, Horner along with some big British Investors, has been working with the Thailand 51% owners of Red Bull to buy the Red Bull F1 team, and the Austrians, who own only 49% are furious.

Despite being majority owners of the brand, the Yoovidhya family isn’t involved in the day-to-day running of Red Bull. Dietrich Mateschitz was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Red Bull until his death in October 2022. He was succeeded by a board of directors led by three top bosses — Franz Watzlawick (CEO beverage business), Oliver Mintzlaff (CEO of corporate projects and investments) and Alexander Kirchmayr (Chief Financial Officer).

If this rumor is to be believed, Horner has been negotiating with the 51% owners (Chalerm Yoovidhya and Daranee Yoovidhya) to buy the team and with 51% of the vote, there is nothing the Austrians can do about it.

Chalerm Yoovidhya (R) and Daranee Yoovidhya control 51% of Red Bull and are rumored to be negotiating with Horner to sell the F1 team to him and his British investors

If the Yoovidhya’s agree to sell the F1 team (not the Red Bull beverage, just the F1 team) to Horner and his investors, it will be game over for the Austrians.

The Austrians are reportedly so furious they are doing their best to discredit Horner, but it could be Horner that will have the last laugh.

This could explain why Chalerm Yoovidhya and Daranee Yoovidhya were so chummy with Horner and his wife Geri Halliwell this past weekend in Bahrain and why Horner is so confident he will not be fired.

This may also explain why Austrian Dr. Helmut Marko, who was tight with Dietrich Mateschitz and with the Austrians, who control 49% of Red Bull, has been at odds with Horner over decision-making within the team.

If Marko is forced out, it could make Jos Verstappen and his son Max Verstappen threaten to leave the Red Bull team because they are a close ally of Marko’s.

If Horner succeeds in wrestling the team away from the Austrians, he would be well advised to keep Marko involved with the team, and hence the Verstappen’s.

Like I said at the beginning of this article, none of this was on my Bingo Card.

It will be interesting to see whether this rumor has legs.

Stay tuned…….