The world of Formula 1 is no stranger to drama, and the latest saga involving Red Bull Racing is seemingly spiraling out of control. The team that has been utterly dominant on the track has been equally conflicted from the inside. And all of this drama can be traced back to the death of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022, which supposedly left a huge power gap within the organization as a whole. A faction within the team’s Austrian stakeholders is reportedly hell-bent on ousting CEO and team principal Christian Horner, who has been at the center of this conflict from the start when he was accused by a female employee of the team of inappropriate behavior. This revelation comes from an F1 insider, who paints a picture of a power struggle that could change the face of the team.

According to Joe Saward, the root of the conflict is the clash between the Thai ownership, supporting Christian Horner, and the Austrian group, including the Verstappen family, Helmut Marko, and Mark Mateschitz, son of Dietrich, who want him gone. Saward explains that Red Bull isn’t a unified entity anymore; it’s divided into at least two conflicting factions, possibly more. The ownership structure, with the Thai majority and Austrian minority, complicates matters.

While the Thai ownership backs Horner, there’s a struggle within the Austrian contingent that risks destabilizing the team’s integrity. “Mark Mateschitz, the son of Dietrich Mateschitz has 49%. Then there’s the management in Austria, who seems to be the one trying to get rid of Christian, but Christian is protected,” Saward explained. “So you have three levels and the top level (the Thai property ed) is supporting the bottom level (Horner who is also CEO of Red Bull Racing ed) and the middle level is out of sync. Helmut Marko is part of the middle level, as is Jos Verstappen.”

If there is any certainty surrounding this situation, it’s that the conflict is far from being over and could lead to dire consequences for the reigning world champions.

Max Verstappen could end up being the sacrifice at the end of it all

Reigning triple world champion, Max Verstappen recently hinted at a potential departure from the team despite his continued domination if his trusted adviser, Helmut Marko, faces changes in his role. Marko, a key figure in Verstappen’s journey within the Red Bull program, found himself amidst speculation, suggesting a possible suspension after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Verstappen, speaking after securing pole position for the Saudi Grand Prix, expressed his support for Marko, emphasizing the significant role Marko plays in his decision-making process. “I have a lot of respect for Helmut,” Verstappen stated. “My loyalty to him is very big, and I have always expressed this to everyone within the team.”

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The situation got complicated as Marko hinted at the possibility of not attending the next race in Australia amidst concerns about leaks to the media and potential disciplinary actions. Despite rumors, Red Bull Racing has not officially suspended Marko, with the matter being handled by Red Bull’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH. Speculation over Verstappen’s contractual ties to Red Bull suggests an exit clause that can be triggered by changes in Marko’s employment status within the team.

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Do you think Max Verstappen will end up leaving the team at the end of the season?