Former F1 World Champion sees potential Red Bull downfall: "Detrimental"

Former Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve believes the ongoing situation between Christian Horner and Red Bull Racing can become "very destructive". The Canadian discusses what this could mean for the future of the Red Bull Racing team. He also suggests that Helmut Marko is in an interesting position.

Horner is expected to find out his future as Red Bull team boss on either Tuesday or Wednesday. If the Brit retains his position after the investigation concludes, then he will fly out for the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend. But 1997 World Champion Villeneuve suggests the negative energy this has caused within Red Bull could become problematic. 

Why the situation will cause problems for Red Bull

"When you have those sorts of issues and negative energy in a team so close to the start of the season, it can be very destructive. You need good energy around you to get that extra tenth (of a second) to confirm you have made the right calls on strategy. This issue with Horner could be very detrimental to Red Bull," Villeneuve told BetIdeas. 

"He has been the architect of much of their success, but in the shadows there was always Helmut Marko. It was not clear who was always doing what. Marko was not working for the team. He was an independent contractor helping the big boss (Dietrich Mateschitz).  Now without the big boss the balance has changed. It was very difficult to know the who, what and how.

"From the outside we don’t know who does what. We know the person speaking on the TV but that doesn’t mean he is the person doing it. After so many years and so many championships Horner has been an integral part of what has happened. If he does go, that will upset the balance."

Horner has been with the team since they first appeared on the grid in 2005. Red Bull won the Constructors Championship four times between 2010 and 2013. They also won the title in 2022 and 2023. Eddie Jordan also recently looked back at what he called an absurd situaiton.