Despite Red Bull CEO Wanting to Fire Christian Horner, Owner’s “Adopted Son” Might Be Safe

Will the fate of Christian Horner be decided by cultural differences between the West and the East? The team boss at Red Bull Racing has been the subject of an internal investigation that was initiated by Red Bull GmbH when the allegations of inappropriate behavior against him were made public by the Dutch morning newspaper, De Telegraaf. Horner, the accused, has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has fully cooperated with the investigation in the past 3 weeks. The probe has now reportedly been concluded and the focus has shifted to determining the next steps. However, Ralf Schumacher believes that Christian Horner will walk away from the case safely.

According to recent reports, the full investigation, which spans well over 100 pages, is now with the board of Red Bull GmbH at the company’s headquarters in Salzburg, Austria. An outcome regarding Horner’s future with the team is expected this week before the team heads to Bahrain for the opening round of the 2024 Formula 1 season. Red Bull Racing, as a Formula 1 team, operates under the umbrella of Red Bull GmbH. However, the authority to make decisions regarding Horner’s future lies beyond the Red Bull CEO, despite wanting to sack the team principal.

Christian Horner could be saved by the equality values in the East

Reports indicate that while Mark Mateschitz has significant authority over operational matters within Red Bull Racing, he does not have the power to terminate Horner’s position unilaterally. Instead, the final say rests with the Thai shareholders who hold the majority of Red Bull GmbH’s shares. Their perspective on the matter will significantly influence the outcome of the matter and the future of Christian Horner within the team.

According to a recent report from FormulaPassion.it, Christian Horner has a strong bond with Chalerm Yoovidhya, Red Bull’s patron in Thailand as pointed out by Ralf Schumacher, “For Chalerm, Horner is a sort of adopted son. He stands by him unconditionally.” Interestingly, the cultural context in Thailand differs from that in Western countries. What may be perceived as inappropriate behavior in one cultural setting might not carry the same weight in another. The Thai shareholders view Horner favorably, and he enjoys their support.

“Whether we like it or not, unfortunately, the reality is that our Western values of equality they have not yet arrived in Thailand. There the role of women is still seen differently,“ Ralf added. The stakes are high for Red Bull to wrap up the case as both FOM and the FIA have been asking the Milton-Keynes squad to resolve the situation swiftly. Reportedly, Ford has also halted their involvement in Red Bull’s Power Unit project, putting the substantial $240 million deal at risk.

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

Whatever the final decision may be, many believe that Red Bull has already paid the price with the whole thing unfolding in the public eyes.

The damage to Red Bull’s reputation might be irreversible says Eddie Jordan

As the investigation report now sits with the board of Red Bull GmbH at the company’s headquarters in Salzburg, Austria, the motorsport community is waiting for an official announcement. The communication from Red Bull’s parent company is unlikely to delve into significant details surrounding the allegations themselves. Confidentiality and privacy considerations for all parties involved will likely be respected.

However, Eddie Jordan believes that the damage to Red Bull’s reputation might be irreversible, with Horner and the team’s image tarnished. “Does anyone seriously believe that the employee made up the allegations out of thin air? If Horner is innocent, are you guilty? The damage to Red Bull’s image is already enormous. The situation that has arisen in Red Bull is the most absurd I have ever seen.”

What are you expecting the outcome of the investigation to be?