Breaking: Martin Brundle Addresses Verstappen’s Role in Christian Horner’s Surprise R…read more
Breaking: Martin Brundle Addresses Verstappen’s Role in Christian Horner’s Surprise R…read more
Red Bull’s announcement following the British Grand Prix at Silverstone that Christian Horner would no longer serve as team principal sent shockwaves through the Formula 1 world. After more than two decades at the helm — a period defined by multiple world championships, race wins, and dominant seasons — Horner’s sudden departure and the appointment of Racing Bulls team boss Laurent Mekies as his replacement raised immediate questions.
One of the biggest points of speculation surrounded Max Verstappen and his father, Jos Verstappen. With tensions having flared between Horner and the Verstappens in recent seasons, and amid rumors of Mercedes pursuing Max for a future move, some interpreted Horner’s dismissal as a political play to keep the reigning world champion tied to Red Bull.
However, speaking during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, Sky Sports F1 pundit Martin Brundle provided clarity on the situation — and specifically addressed whether the Verstappens were behind the high-profile change.
“I was very surprised,” Brundle admitted when asked for his thoughts on Horner’s removal. “The urgency, the decisiveness of it, the fact it happened mid-season — after everything Christian’s achieved over the past 20 years with Red Bull — it was a shock. His contributions, the championships, the countless race victories — they’ve been extraordinary.”
Brundle emphasized that while there had been tension between Jos Verstappen and Horner — especially over the past 16 months — the move to dismiss Horner came from Red Bull’s senior management in Austria, not the Verstappens.
“I’ve had long conversations with Christian,” Brundle said. “I’ve spoken with Jos Verstappen, and we’ve heard from Max as well. I’ve reached out to speak with Oliver Mintzlaff and Dr. Helmut Marko here at Spa, though those conversations haven’t happened yet. But it seems quite clear this was a decision driven by Austria. It wasn’t something the Verstappens requested.”
While Jos Verstappen had publicly criticized Horner in the past and at times hinted that a leadership change was needed, Brundle made it clear that this didn’t directly influence the decision.
“Jos has certainly thrown some hand grenades over the last year and a half — and yes, some of them exploded,” Brundle said with characteristic frankness. “He made it known he thought Christian should step aside at times. But this wasn’t about appeasing the Verstappens. The core issue was about power and control within Red Bull Racing — particularly over the commercial aspects.”
Brundle elaborated that Red Bull’s top executives in Austria felt it was time to reassert corporate oversight, especially as Horner reportedly resisted giving up control over key elements like sponsorship deals, staffing decisions, the cost cap strategy, and overall team operations.
“Christian wanted to retain control over a wide range of responsibilities — from drivers to sponsors, to the hiring of personnel,” Brundle said. “But the Austrian leadership felt the balance of power had tipped too far toward Horner as an individual rather than Red Bull as a brand. They felt it was becoming too much about Christian and not enough about the company itself.”
When asked whether Max Verstappen could have used his influence to prevent Horner’s removal, Brundle offered an insightful take.
“Presumably, Max could have stopped it if he really wanted to,” Brundle said. “But he either chose not to, or wasn’t able to. Given his standing and importance to Red Bull, I’d assume it was a deliberate choice not to intervene. He might have seen this as a decision best left to the management.”
Brundle also touched on the broader culture within Red Bull and the philosophy that may have motivated the leadership shift. “There’s a phrase they use — ‘it’s all about the can,’” he explained, referencing Red Bull’s energy drink branding. “The feeling was that the focus needed to return to Red Bull as a whole — not just one man, no matter how successful he’s been.”
Ultimately, Brundle’s comments offered a more grounded and comprehensive explanation of the situation — suggesting that while personal dynamics may have played a role, the final decision was a strategic move from Red Bull’s Austrian base, aimed at reshaping the team’s future structure and priorities.
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