And can Red Bull turn around its Sinking Ship?
Have to say it came as a surprise to Mwah,
reading the news over Christian Horner, the Pied Piper of Red Bull Racing being
released of His duties as CEO effective immediately on Wednesday morning, July
9th.
Horner, alleged of “Bullying” and sexually
harassing a female Red Bull employee, His personal assistant at the start of
the 2024 Formula 1 season, in which the Daily Mail is calling a sext texting
scandal, claims that Horner has gotten His “Cumuffins”, which I find overly
rich…
As Horner was cleared twice from this sexual
harassment allegation by two separate Barristers, and had seemed to weather the
storm, especially after Max Verstappen won His fourth, consecutive World
Championship last year.
While I do not condone any form of sexual
harassment, I find the Hypocrisy of one of His fiercest critic, once fondly
known as Jos the Boss Verstappen dubious at best! Since Verstappen Senior
seemed to be spearheading the charge for Horner’s dismissal over a year ago.
As why is no one writing about Jos’s former multiple
Domestic Assaults? Having surrendered to Dutch police in January 2012, spending
two weeks in Jail for Attempted Murder! Having supposedly tried to run down His
former girlfriend, before being released due to lack of evidence.
This followed His ex-girlfriend being taken to
hospital in November, 2011, after physical beating by Jos. For which the former
24 year old girlfriend, when Jos was 39 said had happened before.
Not to mention being fined and given three
months suspended jail sentence in 2008 for domestic violence against his
ex-wife, Max’s Mum. Or being convicted of Assault for breaking a man’s skull at
a Karting track some ten-plus years prior…
Although I’m in no way defending the Dutchman’s
unscrupulous antics. I’m now wondering if the Headline about the team imploding
if Horner remained in power after the sex-texting scandal by Jos, stemmed from
His personal experience?
Like Him or not, Horner led Red Bull to eight
F1 Drivers and six Constructors Championships over His twenty-plus tenue as
leader of Red Bull. Not to mention 124 Grands Prix victories in 405 starts, the
fourth most ever by a Formula 1 team.
Therefore, at age 51, I cannot see Horner being
finished in F1, and three current F1 teams jump out immediately to Mwah as
possible landing destinations. Even though it sounds like Horner is on
mandatory “gardening Leave” for the moment.
Horner has been rumoured to be on Ferrari’s
radar previously, which He’s turned la Scuderia down previously to stay at Red
Bull. Seeing currently embattled Team Principal Frederic Vausser landing the
job.
But if F1 Pundit Ralf Schumacher is correct
over Horner not appreciating criticism, then Ferrari seems like a bad fit.
Since the Italian press is constantly castigating Scuderia Ferrari over its
poor performance, and continuously demanding the dismissal of whomever is in
charge! Not to mention uprooting wife Geri Halliwell and family to Italy.
No, for Mwah the two most likely future
destinations would seem to be either Alpine or Cadillac.
The move to Cadillac would be brilliant, giving
them instant creditability. Not to mention somebody in charge with a winning
pedigree. Although not sure how this would work out for current boss Graeme Lowdon?
Although again, the TWG Group seems intent on
running the F1 operation out of its Fishers complex in the future, implying
that Horner would need to move to another country. Unless perhaps Lowdon became
Deputy Team Principal and oversaw the Stateside operation?
While I’d say the most logical choice would be
Alpine, provided it gave Horner a long enough leash to turn the franchise
around. Since they’ve got a nasty habit of dumping leadership routinely!
Although reportedly, Horner is good friends
with HMS Monogram’, aka flavour Flav’, nee Flavio Briatore, who may be quick to
snap up the services of His friend?
Whilst what about Steve Nielsen? Just confirmed
as the team’s new Managing Director, effective September 1st. As Nielsen will
be responsible for day-to-day operations.
But being a truly British team based at
Enstone, and supposedly with updated premises, this would be the most
convenient for Horner. As who knows where it could lead?
While you’d have to think that Aston Martin’s a
longshot, since I think there’s already too many Cooks in the kitchen! And how
would Adrian Newey feel about re-uniting with Horner?
As only time will tell where Messer Horner
lands, provided He does return to Formula 1 in the future, which feels
inevitable to Mwah…
Meanwhile, Laurent Mekies, previous Boss of
Racing Bulls takes over as CEO of Red Bull Racing. As the Frenchman began His
Formula 1 career with Arrows, and engineered several F1 drivers at Minardi and
Scuderia toro Rosso. He spent a brief stint as the FIA’s Safety Director and
Deputy Race Director. Then moved to Ferrari as its Sporting Director before
becoming Racing Bulls Team Principal.
Alan “Bat” Permane becomes Racing Bulls new
Team Principal. Which will be interesting to see how the ‘lil bulls progress?
As Racing Bulls were currently tied for seventh place with Aston Martin on 36 Markers apiece, in the vaunted Constructors Championship before Mekies moved to Red Bull. With Sauber vaulting five points ahead to sixth, thanks to Nico Hulkenberg’s excellent third place finish at Silverstone.