In the paddock in Bahrain, filled up for i test pre-seasons there are various topics of discussion. Starting from the values on the track which are slowly starting to emerge. Moving on to the investigations against Christian Horner, of which everyone continues to wonder what the outcome will be. During the first two days of testing, each of the team principals was asked what they thought of what happened. Nobody backed out. Horner was obviously also asked for comment. The one who gave the most scathing response on the case was Zak Brown, who during the press conference also raised doubts and controversies about the convergence between Red Bull and the junior team, RB fueling the clash with Horner.
Brown: “Horner charges are a bad headline for Formula 1”
The news in the paddock follows each other and the topic has taken on an increasingly central dimension in the first two days of testing. Any movement of Horner, present at the tests, any conversation is filmed by the media, by photographers. There was clearly no shortage of questions to all the professionals, primarily those who hold the same role as Horner, i.e. the team principals. After all, who better than them can understand the sensitivity of what is happening. The McLaren team principal, interrogato on the case he explained how the accusations linked to the Horner investigation are enormous damage to the sport.
“The allegations are extremely serious and McLaren believes we comply, with all men and women, with the highest standards of diversity, equality and inclusion. These issues are extremely important to us, to our partners and to everyone involved in Formula 1. Red Bull has launched an investigation and we hope it will be handled transparently and, as the FIA and F1 have said, that it is handled quickly. Because I don't think Formula 1 wants or needs these titles right now."
The issue is serious, and you can perceive it not only from the words used by the other team principals but also from Horner's attitude, usually always ready to silence journalists. His tenure with the team is in doubt. There is talk of an announcement from Red Bull before the start of the race weekend next week. News that Horner could not deny or confirm given that the trial is still ongoing.
“As you well know, there is an ongoing trial of which I am part, so I'm afraid I cannot comment”, Horner told the media.
Horner-Brown the clash on the Racing Bulls
Brown and Horner are certainly not best friends, and one of the many topics on which there is strong disagreement concerns the most concrete closeness of Red Bull to the former AlphaTauri team, now Racing Bulls. The renewed look of Tsunoda and Ricciardo's single-seater worries the teams at the top of the ranking quite a bit. The fear is that RB could prove too competitive, due to the components sold by Red Bull and the intellectual property.
"There is no other major sport that I know of where you can have ownership of two competing teams. It's not allowed in any other sport." Brown said.
Horner responded to the comment from the McLaren team principal by underlining the work done by Red Bull in its history, also in bringing Minardi back on the right path. “You have to look back to the beginning of history to know why ownership [of the two F1 teams] is the way it is now. Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley approached Dietrich Mateschitz in 2005 to acquire the then struggling Minardi Formula 1 team, which was on the verge of bankruptcy. Dietrich stepped in, acquired the team, turned it around and invested significantly in the facilities in Faenza, Italy.”
Furthermore, Horner also underlined the moments of difficulty linked to the team, which contributed to the history of F1 by also cultivating talent thanks to the two teams. “Red Bull's commitment to F1 and these two teams is therefore exceptional and should be applauded and appreciated - he concluded - rather than mocked and belittled"
Source statements: FormulaPassion
