Amidst Christian Horner Saga, Ford Shows Public Backing for Red Bull With F1 Academy Partnership

Red Bull has been under the spotlight for over a month for all the wrong reasons. The parent company of Red Bull Racing launched a serious investigation against Christian Horner after allegations of inappropriate behavior by a female employee were made public by the Dutch newspaper. De Telegraaf. Horner, one of the most respected and successful team principals in the F1 paddock was left wondering if he would keep his job. But there were far bigger implications to this whole situation than just replacing the Brit. Red Bull risked jeopardizing its partnership with Ford in their Powertrain project. However, it looks like there is no love lost between Red Bull and Ford.

The controversy surrounding Horner had prompted Ford executives to express their concerns and call for a swift resolution. Jim Farley, Ford’s CEO, emphasized the importance of shared values between two partners. And even though Horner was cleared by Red Bull GmbH of any wrongdoing, things escalated quickly after some private documents (unverified) related to the case were leaked by anonymous sources. But amidst this uncertainty, Ford chose to affirm its commitment publicly by announcing its title sponsorship of the Red Bull F1 Academy programme. This decision was made ahead of the programme’s season-opening event in Jeddah, signaling Ford’s dedication to its partnership with Red Bull Racing. Moreover, this announcement allowed Ford to reiterate its stance on inclusion and diversity, especially in light of allegations against Horner.

Mark Rushbrook, the global director of Ford Performance Motorsports, highlighted the broader significance of the F1 Academy deal. “Ford Performance is committed to working with the FIA and race promoters to find ways to integrate more female talent into all levels of motorsport, both on and off the track, and this is a great opportunity to extend that work by partnering with the best in F1 Academy,” Rushbrook was quoted by Motorsport.com.

READ MORE: Christian Horner Investigation: Anonymous Whistleblower Bashed for Violating “Private” Files

With Ford’s continued backing, Red Bull can breathe a sigh of relief. But there is still a lot more to be said about the consequences of Christian Horner’s investigation.

Could Red Bull lose its star driver Max Verstappen?

Jos Verstappen, the father of the reigning triple world champion, Max Verstappen, recently expressed his concerns about the future of Red Bull Racing under the leadership of Christian Horner, suggesting that if Horner remains as team principal, tensions within the team could rise. These statements, coupled with Jos’ meeting with Toto Wolff, have led to speculations about Verstappen’s future with Red Bull.

Max Verstappen addressed the situation himself, albeit cryptically. When asked about the possibility of having a contract clause that would allow him to leave Red Bull, the Dutchman hinted at its existence, stating, “Like any other driver. I think there’s always things written in that contract. But ultimately that just stays within the team.”

Verstappen’s Red Bull contract seemingly prohibits him from openly discussing any potential exit clauses. When pressed further about the situation, the 26-year-old acknowledged that there might be significance to the speculations, but chose not to elaborate on what that means exactly.

Amidst the media frenzy, Verstappen has maintained a composed demeanor, reiterating his commitment to Red Bull’s dominant team. Despite this, he left the door slightly open for the possibility of change, citing Lewis Hamilton‘s unexpected move to Ferrari, “The thing is I think no one would have ever seen that Lewis would move to Ferrari. So you can never say 100 percent. That’s how it’s going to be and I approach my life like that.”

Will Max Verstappen join hands with Mercedes in the near future? What are your thoughts on the matter?