Christian Horner has managed to maintain favor with the Thai owners of Red Bull despite the scandals surrounding his inappropriate conduct. The recent attention surrounding Horner’s behavior has caused a stir within the racing community. Allegations of misconduct by a female Red Bull employee were investigated and ultimately cleared, but this has caused tension within the Milton Keynes team.
Horner’s relationship with Max Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen, also suffered as a result of the investigation. There were even rumors that the late Dietrich Mateschitz’s son wanted to remove Horner from his position with the help of external forces. However, as tensions have cooled in recent days, Red Bull GmbH organized a high-level meeting in Dubai.
According to Auto Motor und Sport (AMuS), this meeting only solidified Horner’s position within the company. The Thai majority stakeholder, Chalerm Yoovidhya, is said to fully support Horner’s plans to take complete control of Red Bull, including its motorsport division. However, this support could be withdrawn if Horner is found guilty in a civil court. Previously, there were concerns that Yoovidhya was unhappy with the backlash from US activists regarding the Horner scandal.
There were also rumors that Verstappen would leave Red Bull if Horner remained in power. However, the three-time world champion put an end to these speculations by stating his commitment to the team. Nevertheless, the outcome of the Dubai meeting could potentially change Verstappen’s decision.
Verstappen’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, was reportedly present at the meeting in Dubai and had discussions with Yoovidhya. The exact nature of these discussions is unknown, but according to AMuS, it is clear that Verstappen will leave Red Bull if Horner continues to hold his position as Team Principal.
Furthermore, Red Bull’s Managing Director and CEO are said to be concerned about their own positions within the company. There are rumors that Red Bull Holdings could potentially be relocated to Dubai.
Red Bull finds itself in yet another tumultuous situation. Despite the recent controversies, Horner’s strong support from the Thai side has given him more influence. However, no official statements have been made to the public, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold for the Milton Keynes team in the coming weeks.