F1 LIVE | Red Bull staff mad at Marko and Mintzlaff as Horner allowed attention to get to his head

07:00, 21 Jul

Updated: 08:08, 21 Jul

bySavannah Lenz

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'Horner let attention get to his head'

On the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, Ralf Schumacher and Peter Hardenacke discussed the possibility of Christian Horner being vain. Hardenacke felt as if Drive to Survive might have had something to do with it, as Schumacher mentioned how normal it is to get swept away in the spotlight.

"You can hold it against him — I'd argue you could even somewhat justify it, because at some point, it just becomes too much for one person. Don't forget: everyone is singing your praises. And Red Bull with Max Verstappen, that was of course incredibly successful. The success can easily go to your head."

Schumacher was even able to recall a time when Mercedes team principal and CEO recieved a TV special but not Horner.

'Will explode with Verstappen inside'

Dutch commentator Nelson Valkenburg commented on the current state of Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen. On the Nailing the Apex podcast, he said that Red Bull Racing needs to be able to prove to Verstappen that they can build him a championship-winning car for next year.

He also mentioned Red Bull Racing's new engine project for 2026. Which is a concern according to Valkenburg.

He said, "There is doubt about the engine program, there's doubt about the technical leadership under Pierre Waché. And nothing Red Bull right now can show or tell Verstappen will change that narrative all too much."

If Red Bull Racing underperforms against Mercedes, Valkenburg said, "That team will explode with Verstappen inside."