Christian Horner is going through a tough time. Not only is he being investigated for the allegations of inappropriate behavior, supposedly with one of the female employees of Red Bull Racing, but he has also been advised to step down from his role as the team principal. Now, to make matters worse, a recent report from Motorsport-Total suggests that his relationship with the Verstappens, especially Jos Verstappen, has fallen apart.

“There are whispers that the personal relationship between Horner and Jos Verstappen is badly damaged,” the report read. The reason behind the speculations stems from the fact that it’s probably not a coincidence the story of allegations against Horner was first leaked by the Dutch Media. Another report from GP Blog suggested that the Dutch newspaper, De Telegraaf, was hesitant to release the story until prompted by an F1 insider. Also, Daily Mail hinted earlier this week that the Dutch newspaper was threatened with legal consequences if they published the story.

However, it’s important to note that no evidence links the Verstappen camp to the leaking of the story against the Red Bull Team Principal. But as per the report, Max Verstappen “is considered a loyal person whose loyalty lies primarily with two men: his father and Helmut Marko.” [Translated by Google] After all, their contributions to Verstappen’s career made him the driver he is. While Jos Verstappen shaped and prepared his son for F1, Marko was the one who gave Max his chance in the sport.

When the three-time champion was in F3 in 2014, the Red Bull advisor recognized his talent for what it was and gave him a seat in Toro Rosso the following year. Verstappen’s loyalty means that, if push comes to shove, he could choose Helmut Marko over Christian Horner. If the investigation turns out against Christian Horner, the triple world champion might not come in support of his team boss. This speculation surfaced even when there was a reported internal power struggle in Red Bull.

In light of the recent investigation, the Brit has refused to accept the calls for voluntary resignation. There are also growing concerns within Red Bull that the investigation could potentially damage the brand’s reputation if appropriate actions are not taken in the case Horner’s misconduct is proven right. This might be another reason the Verstappens want to distance themselves from Horner.

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The unfolding investigation against Horner also potentially poses a threat to Red Bull’s plans of launching the RB20 on February 15th in case the matter is not resolved. But if it is resolved, and the team principal is guilty…

Who has Red Bull prepared to take over Christian Horner’s role if need be?

Red Bull has been extremely successful in recent years under the leadership of Christian Horner and in the capable hands of Max Verstappen. However, the team is facing a precarious situation as it’s about to enter its 20th season in F1. If the worst comes to pass after Horner’s investigation is complete, Red Bull must be ready with a replacement for the British team boss.

Reports suggest that Red Bull Team Manager Jonathan Wheatley may step in as interim team principal if Horner is ousted from the team following the investigation. However, that alone might not be the end of trouble for Red Bull as F1 journalist Joe Saward raised the possibility that Christian Horner and Red Bull designer Adrian Newey may have contracts that protect one another, meaning one might choose to leave if the other were to depart. And the loss of Adrian Newey might be something Red Bull is not prepared to suffer.

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What are your thoughts on the matter? Do you think Adrian Newey would quit Red Bull if Horner were to be relieved of his duties? Share your insights in the comments down below.

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