The choice of a number of key figures at Crimson Bull Racing to depart the F1 workforce is precisely what Jos Verstappen feared at first of the 12 months, the previous F1 driver has informed Motorsport.com.
Initially of the 12 months, the daddy of three-time world champion Max Verstappen claimed that ‘the workforce is at risk of being torn aside’, as long as Christian Horner – who was accused by a feminine worker of inappropriate and controlling behaviour – continued to behave as workforce principal of the Milton Keynes based mostly outfit.
“It could actually’t go on the best way it’s. It should explode”, he informed Mail Sport. “There may be pressure right here whereas he stays in place.”
Final week, it was introduced that Crimson Bull’s Head of Race Technique Will Courtenay is leaving to hitch rivals McLaren because the workforce’s new sporting director.
The Briton had been with Crimson Bull for greater than twenty years, having joined when the workforce was nonetheless competing beneath the Jaguar guise.
Courtenay’s deliberate departure follows these of chief technical officer Adrian Newey, who will turn out to be managing technical accomplice at Aston Martin, and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley, who will be a part of Audi’s Components 1 venture as workforce principal.
“Sure, that is what I warned about”, Jos Verstappen responded to Motorsport.com on the East Belgian Rally final weekend, when requested about one other veteran workforce member leaving Crimson Bull Racing.
Christian Horner, Crew Principal, Crimson Bull Racing, Helmut Marko, Marketing consultant, Crimson Bull Racing, speak within the storage as mechanics work on the automobile of Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing RB20
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photos
“The workforce then says: ‘Oh, it would not matter, we now have another person [who we can put on that position].’
“However it’s too many individuals now [leaving]. And Max will get questions on it each time and so forth. So yeah, I believe it is simply not good, what’s occurring in the mean time.”
Horner, who has been cleared of allegations of inappropriate behaviour after an inside investigation by an impartial lawyer, mentioned on a number of events that Crimson Bull has sufficient energy in depth to deal with the departure of a person.
However Verstappen senior believes: “He [Horner] all the time glosses over it.”
On observe, issues haven’t been going easily for Crimson Bull for some time now.
Whereas Verstappen gained seven of the primary ten races of the 2024 F1 season, he’s with out a win in eight races and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix noticed McLaren overtake Crimson Bull on the prime of the constructors’ standings.Â
Moreover, Verstappen’s lead within the drivers’ championship shrunk to 52 factors on the final race in Singapore after Lando Norris dominated the occasion.
