According to reports, Christian Horner may be losing the support of the majority ownership of Red Bull due to increasing public backlash. Horner has been involved in a number of controversies recently and was investigated for inappropriate behavior by a female employee. However, Red Bull cleared him of all allegations. Despite this, new reports suggest that Horner’s position may be in jeopardy.
Previously, Horner had the support of Red Bull’s majority shareholder, Chalerm Yoovidhya. However, it is now said that the Thai shareholders are seeking advice from the Austrian ownership and CEO. It is worth noting that Dietrich Mateschitz’s son and Mintzlaff allegedly wanted to remove Horner from his position.
One possible reason for this change in support could be Red Bull’s interest in the US market. Women’s rights groups in the United States have been calling for a boycott of the energy drinks company due to the Christian Horner controversy. Additionally, the Thai owners of Red Bull are concerned that the female employee may publicly speak out against the company. Red Bull Racing has already suspended the employee following Horner’s clearance.
According to SoyMotor, it is rumored that Christian Horner will be let go by Milton Keynes before the upcoming weekend. This would be a significant setback for the 50-year-old, who has managed to withstand criticism in recent weeks.
Horner may also face trouble from the music industry. SoyMotor reports that Irish rock band U2 may be working on a song in support of the female employee. It is said that the employee’s brother is the son-in-law of U2 guitarist, ‘The Edge’. The song is rumored to be titled “Don’t be h*rny, be Christian”, and Red Bull’s Thai ownership is concerned that U2’s influence and following could further bring controversy to the company.
It is important to note that these reports indicate that Horner may lose his power struggle at Milton Keynes, but there has been no official statement regarding his departure or the release of a song against him by U2. Fans will have to wait and see how things unfold for Red Bull and Horner in the coming days.