Exploring the Departure of Christian Horner: Insights into the Future of Red Bull Racing

Red Bull Racing has faced some awkward moments lately, especially concerning their second driver, Sergio Perez. In 2023, Max Verstappen dazzled fans with an impressive 19 wins out of 22 races. In stark contrast, Perez only managed to take two victories in the same timeframe. After that strong start, his performance took a nosedive.

Despite this, Red Bull decided to extend Perez’s contract in mid-2024 for an additional two years. Many found this puzzling. With Perez’s declining form and Verstappen commanding the spotlight, it seemed unnecessary to commit to him for the long haul. Unfortunately, by the end of 2024, Red Bull had to part ways with Perez due to his repeated struggles, costing them about €18 million in pay-offs.

This hefty amount, while minor for a giant like Red Bull, struck as wasteful. To replace Perez, the team brought in Liam Lawson, a newcomer with just 11 races under his belt. The choice proved disastrous. After two races, Lawson was benched for Yuki Tsunoda, who had more experience but also faced challenges keeping up with Verstappen.

What’s notable is that Red Bull has missed an opportunity to bring in top-tier talent, like George Russell or Charles Leclerc, who could potentially elevate their performance if given a chance in their competitive car. This gap in performance from the second driver has left Red Bull struggling in the Constructors’ Championship, which is crucial for end-of-year prize money.

Adding to the complications, Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, unexpectedly supported a move to bring back V10 engines, a change proposed by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. This proposal raised eyebrows, especially since Red Bull is developing a new hybrid engine in collaboration with Ford, which is also hesitant about the engine switch. The push for V10s met resistance from teams like Mercedes and Honda, raising questions about the strategy’s viability.

In essence, Red Bull’s management decisions reflect a mix of dilemmas and missed opportunities. With the right moves, they could better harness their potential and stay competitive in the race for championships.



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