When scandals of any kind arise in the most elite sport on the planet, everything becomes more accentuated. It's been years since we've seen an earthquake like the one at Red Bull, and everything is even more shocking if you consider that the team seemed to be sailing in idyllic waters until recently. Having just won the drivers' and constructors' titles, the winged bull team is going through a phase in its history that will be remembered for its controversial nature.
And among complaints, internal disagreements and power struggles, a smile almost arises even among non-Max fans when looking at the apparent impassivity with which he continues to crush his rivals. In doing so, the Dutchman continues, lap after lap, the nickname given to him by most: the robot. Although from the outside the three-time world champion seems in total control, given the situation, the doubt arises that this circumstance may disappear tomorrow.
The current situation at Red Bull
The general uproar arose from the chat scandal between Christian Horner and the Red Bull employee involved. Say that the fact was used as leverage used by the anti-Horner currents to relieve the English manager of his duties it wouldn't be absurd. After the suspension of the Milton Keynes insider, the employee revealed that she intended to appeal and to contact the FIA directly, thus postponing the conclusion of the procedure.
As the issue developed, the pro and anti Horner currents within the company led to quite a few rumors. The complex relationship between Horner and Jos Verstappen is not making life easy for the team principal, at risk of suffering Max's hemorrhage – more and more rumored in Mercedes – and Helmut Marko - on the verge of resignation – from the team's staff, and who knows how many other valid technicians and professionals. To date it seems that the multi-world championship team finds itself at the crossroads of an "after Horner", with managers fighting to protect their interests in managing a team comparable to a real gold mine for business.
Max Verstappen in all of this
The Dutch champion in all this turmoil seems like a relaxed boatman smoothing a stormy ocean. Of course if the boat is an RB20 it's easier, but given the impeccability with which a team of F1 to avoid failures, the results that number 1 & Co. are achieving are causing a sensation. Max is on his ninth victory in a streak that has lasted since Japan 2023. 2024 started as well as it could have: two pole positions e two wins. The only way his opponents can spoil his celebrations is with a fast lap: a Jeddah Leclerc took care of it, but don't tell Max.
The three-time champion drives cleanly, the car does what it wants, and to make matters worse, the technical and strategic choices are always the right ones. Sergio Perez also started the season on the right foot, demonstrating that the car is accommodating to multiple driving styles and intentions. In short, all of this is the backdrop to a complete pilot in every area at the age of 26, who in terms of talent has very few rivals to fear in this historical moment.
There is always a however
It must be said that, however, despite the internal upheavals, nothing has yet collapsed within the team. What we have established is that the team is able to work well despite the "formal" hurricane – to be evaluated in the long term if it will be able to do the same in the war on developments -. The winged bull team had already confirmed this in the past, when the founder of the brand passed away Dietrich Mateschitz, very involved in the F1 project, managing to quickly adapt to a management loss of very high caliber.
Everything is yet to be written, but if the anti-Horner currents were to win, there is much to think that the Dutchman could pursue unchallenged dominance even with a team principal other than the English one. If otherwise the latter should prevail, Max Verstappen's possible farewell would jeopardize the guarantee of being able to drive the best single-seater granted to him in recent years by Newey.
Until the situation has reached a concrete epilogue it seems likely that the well-established RB mechanism will continue to work at its best, and consequently Max, but if any tsunami leads to drastic personnel changes, the Dutchman's impassivity could suffer a serious blow in the event that he were denied the habits to which he is attached. Among all, having at his side the consultant who has followed him since the academy days, and technicians who slavishly fulfill his requests.
