Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner has received a public vote of confidence from Red Bull Managing Director Oliver Mintzlaff. Mintzlaff expressed his faith in Horner’s leadership of the Formula 1 side of the brand. Horner has been at the helm of Red Bull since its establishment in 2005. However, his future was called into question recently due to allegations of inappropriate behavior. Despite being cleared of these allegations following an internal investigation, a power struggle has emerged. While rumors suggest that Horner has the support of the majority Thai owners, the Austrian faction appears to favor his departure. Mintzlaff, who had previously held off on endorsing Horner during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, has now voiced his desire to see Horner continue in his current role for the foreseeable future. “I am convinced of that,” said Mintzlaff, emphasizing Horner’s dedication to the team’s success and his effectiveness as a CEO.
The speculation surrounding tension within the Red Bull team has once again increased this week with the news that design expert Adrian Newey will be departing in 2025. However, Mintzlaff, like Horner and Max Verstappen, believes that Red Bull’s current technical structure is well-equipped to continue achieving success even in Newey’s absence. Mintzlaff acknowledges Newey’s significant contributions to the team over the years, stating that he played a crucial role in securing 13 World Championship titles. While it is unfortunate that Newey will be leaving, Mintzlaff assures that the decision was made through fair and respectful discussions. He also emphasizes that Newey leaves behind not only a remarkable legacy but also a solid foundation that he helped establish. Mintzlaff expresses confidence in the team’s ability to build fast Formula 1 cars even without Newey’s direct involvement.
With Newey’s departure looming, Red Bull will no longer be able to rely on his ideas for the upcoming technical regulations set to be introduced in 2026. Despite this challenge, Mintzlaff remains optimistic and has complete faith in the reigning champions’ ability to rise to the occasion once again. He declares that their goal for 2026 is to maintain their current position at the top of Formula 1. While there are no guarantees, Mintzlaff points out that Red Bull has successfully navigated major rule changes in the past, while other teams have struggled to bridge the gap for three years. He believes that Max Verstappen, as well as the entire team, has noticed this trend, which fuels his positive outlook for the future. Mintzlaff assures that Red Bull has been diligently preparing for 2026 for quite some time. While developing their own engine presents a significant task and challenge, he expresses confidence in their ability to overcome it. Mintzlaff sees this as the next stage of Red Bull’s development.