Oliver Mintzlaff allegedly praised Christian Horner during the Miami Grand Prix due to potential job security concerns. The controversy surrounding Red Bull and the accusations against Horner caused significant turmoil within the team. Despite being cleared by an independent investigation, additional developments in the case emerged, leading to strained relationships and the departure of key individuals. Amidst this chaos, Red Bull’s CEO, Mintzlaff, publicly expressed admiration for Horner.
The sudden exit of an influential figure like Mintzlaff surprised many within the racing community, particularly the Red Bull crew. Over the years, the 65-year-old had led the team to great success. Speculation suggests that the investigation saga played a role in his departure. Nevertheless, despite the ongoing issues, Mintzlaff applauded and praised Horner, believing in his ability to lead the team to success. It is worth noting that Horner is not only the team boss but also the CEO of Red Bull Racing.
However, F1-insider.com has revealed that Mintzlaff’s positive remarks about Horner may not have been genuine. It is alleged that the German was potentially coerced into speaking favorably about his boss. Refusing to comply with these instructions could have jeopardized Mintzlaff’s position at Red Bull for the upcoming season and beyond. Consequently, the 48-year-old falsely praised Horner’s leadership despite the evident struggles within the team.
Despite starting the season with a strong performance, Red Bull has already suffered two losses. McLaren’s impressive showing at the Miami Grand Prix, resulting in a maiden victory for their driver, highlighted the challenges Red Bull is facing. Commenting on the team’s progress, David Croft noted that they seemed to be making improvements on the track.
Croft also mentioned that Red Bull had sacrificed qualifying speed in favor of enhancing their race pace. However, other teams were also making consistent progress, closing the gap with the Milton Keynes-based team. Norris’ comments about McLaren being the fifth-fastest team on the grid, only two-tenths behind Red Bull, further emphasized this point. Croft predicted that Red Bull would continue to face challenges from their rivals in the 2024 season.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s star driver, continues to showcase his exceptional skills alongside the team’s dominant RB20 chassis. However, the 2024 season has already revealed that their competitors are closing in on the Dutchman. As a result, the 26-year-old will need to put in extra effort to secure race wins throughout the season. Nevertheless, with his current form and the team’s resources, Verstappen is likely to secure another championship victory.