Christian Horner Case Could’ve “Gone Unnoticed” if Ford Did Not Intervene, Claims F1 Insider

Red Bull has still not resolved the Christian Horner case and the beginning of the 2024 season is getting closer. The 50-year-old team principal is at threat of losing his job and fans are wondering if this will affect the team’s performance on track. But beyond that, it’s not only Red Bull GmbH who is looking into the matter. The verdict on the investigation will majorly impact one of the team’s soon-to-be partners, Ford.

Starting in 2026, Red Bull has a contract with Ford to get the main power unit for their Formula 1 cars. In the past, Ford has made a public notice about the ongoing investigation, stating that they have a “very high standard of behavior and integrity.” This was said regarding the investigation, highlighting the brand’s exit clause in case the team gets into something controversial. An insider source spoke about the Horner situation and claimed that if the case didn’t get the attention of Ford, the investigation would have been swept under the rug.

Fabiano Vandone’s take on Christian Horner’s investigation

Fabiano Vandone is a known figure in the world of Formula racing. Although he hasn’t been behind the wheel of an F1 car, he raced in the F3 league in 1992. Although he is done with his racing career, he still loves coming around to the paddocks. That’s why Rossomotori brought him in for an episode of Paddock GP where Vandone spoke about the Horner situation.

During the pre-testing period, Christian Horner was spotted at the Sakhir track in Bahrain, and with that came the controversies surrounding him. About this Vandone said, “My personal opinion on this situation is that, probably, all this happened internally at Red Bull. It could easily have been a situation, as others happen in F1 or other sports, which is covered up, with the media therefore becoming aware of it years later.”

Shedding light on why the investigation has become such a big deal, he said, “However, this is a delicate moment with Ford who is entering and would find himself acting as a guest in the Red Bull home with the host dictating the rules to the giant. It does not work like that.” He continues, “In fact, I believe it is an internally inflated problem; it could have gone unnoticed but instead it became something unacceptable, later confirmed by Ford’s latest statement.” That being said, let’s take a look at the terms for the partnership between Ford and Red Bull that might get terminated depending on the Horner verdict.

Everything we know about the Ford and Red Bull partnership

After more than twenty years, Ford is making a comeback to Formula 1 in 2026. The partnership with Red Bull marks Ford’s reentry into the sport, with their last involvement being with the Jaguar team. Previously, Red Bull was backed by Honda, but they split from Renault and successfully collaborated with Honda until 2025.

Ford’s involvement is part of a long-term strategic technical partnership with Red Bull Powertrains. This partnership entails Ford working alongside Red Bull Powertrains to provide Power Units (PUs) for both Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri teams from 2026. The partnership aligns with the introduction of new powertrain rules, featuring a more powerful 350kW motor, sustainable fuels, and the absence of the MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit – Heat).

Read More – Christian Horner Declares Daniel Ricciardo as Serious “Prospect” for Replacing Sergio Perez in 2025

But with this investigation, Red Bull is hanging by a thread for this partnership and Christian Horner is the balance. The verdict should be out any minute now and with that we will know where Red Bull stands on their decision for the Team Principal. That being said, do you think Horner is guilty or innocent of the accusations? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.