Lewis Hamilton, the British driver for Mercedes AMG F1, expressed his belief that the ongoing tension within Red Bull will have a destabilizing effect on the Formula 1 champions. Hamilton drew a comparison to a similar environment he experienced during his time at McLaren. While Red Bull has continued to dominate the latest season, the focus has been on the probe into the team’s boss, Christian Horner. Although Horner was cleared of allegations of inappropriate behavior, the situation has created uncertainty around Max Verstappen’s future with the team. Verstappen’s father, Jos, has even suggested that Horner’s presence could potentially damage Red Bull. Additionally, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has faced scrutiny for his alleged involvement in overturning a penalty given to Fernando Alonso in last season’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The same whistleblower also claimed that Ben Sulayem attempted to prevent the Las Vegas Strip Circuit from being approved to host its first race. When asked about his surprise regarding these developments, Hamilton acknowledged that while the attention on Red Bull and the FIA is unexpected, it is not entirely surprising.
Despite Horner insisting that the team remains “united,” Hamilton acknowledges that recent events would undoubtedly have unsettled the Red Bull ranks. The Mercedes driver recalls the “Spygate” scandal that occurred at McLaren during his debut season in Formula 1 in 2007, which had a negative impact on the entire team. Ron Dennis, who had brought Hamilton into F1, reduced his involvement with the team after Hamilton won his first F1 title in 2008. McLaren has not achieved the same level of success since then, and Dennis, who oversaw 17 championship victories from 1981, left the team under contentious circumstances in 2017. However, Hamilton had already left McLaren before that, as he grew frustrated with the team’s inability to secure him a second title, leading to his highly successful move to Mercedes. Hamilton addressed the situation, drawing from his own experience at McLaren, where the team’s leader was being questioned and going through a difficult time, which had an impact on everyone. A leader plays a crucial role in setting the tone and ensuring that the team adheres to the core values and integrity of the sport. While other team members are equally important, the leader is instrumental in determining the team’s ultimate destination.