06 March 2024 , 16:29
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Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has decided to no longer comment the speculation surrounding Christian Horner's future as their team principal - contrary to his verdict over the weekend.
Horner remains the subject of speculation following an investigation by Red Bull into his alleged inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague. The 50-year-old team boss strongly denied the accusations and Red Bull Racing's parent company, Red Bull GmbH, eventually cleared him following a 23-day probe which came to a conclusion last Wednesday.
A day later, a series of private messages and photos from Horner's WhatsApp were leaked to top-ranking members of the Formula 1 Paddock as well as the media. Despite Red Bull achieving a one-two finish in Saturday's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix through Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, Horner remains under pressure after Vestappen's dad, Jos, publicly called for him to step down.
Marko, 80, has weighed in on the hot-button situation multiple times and told Sky Germany in the wake of Red Bull's perfect start to the new campaign: "We assume that our strength and cohesion will remain intact."
Now, though, the ex-driver is making no comment, having been grilled Austrian outlet OE24 on the topic of Horner's future. "I won't say anything about that until the case is finally closed," Marko replied, only to be reminded that Red Bull's investigation has already been concluded. "Okay, then I've expressed myself wrong. So let's stick with no comment!"
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Horner remains "absolutely confident" that he'll be in Saudi Arabia this weekend for the second Grand Prix of the 2024 F1 season. His wife of nine years, Geri Halliwell, won't be in attendance, as the former Spice Girls star - who held hands and shared a kiss with Horner in Bahrain - has other commitments in her schedule.
Under-fire Horner is reported to have held clear-the air-talks with Max Verstappen's manager, Raymond Vermeulen, in Dubai on Monday, with neither the driver or dad Jos present. Verstappen Snr has claimed that Red Bull are "in danger of being torn apart."
Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen were spotted having a conversation two days before the Bahrain Grand Prix (Clive Rose/Getty Images)"There is tension here while he remains in position," Jos told the Mail. "The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can't go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems."
There's even been speculation that Verstappen's father will take his son away from Red Bull and to a rival team if Horner isn't removed or steps down from his position. Marko recently went on the record to state that he won't stand in Verstappen's way but added when speaking to OE24: "I'm sticking to my 'no comment' here as well. The fact is that there is a great relationship of trust between Max and me."