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Brown 'not surprised' by Horner's Red Bull sacking

Brown 'not surprised' by Horner's Red Bull sacking

BBC News5 days ago
McLaren Racing chief executive officer Zak Brown says he was "not surprised" Christian Horner was sacked as team boss of Red Bull.Horner was dismissed as team principal and CEO of Red Bull on 9 July, three days after their driver Max Verstappen finished fifth in the British Grand Prix.Brown told Canadian television channel TSN: "I'm maybe [surprised by] the timing, but not the result."There's been a lot of drama there the last couple of years and it doesn't seem like that drama has been calming down - maybe been getting worse. So I'm not surprised."Red Bull has given no reason for the removal of Horner, who has been replaced by Frenchman Laurent Mekies, formerly the principal of second team Racing Bulls.Horner had led the team since their debut in 2005. His departure came 17 months after it emerged that a female employee had accused him of sexual harassment and coercive, controlling behaviour. Two separate Red Bull internal investigations dismissed the allegations, which Horner has always denied.Since then, Red Bull have gone through a tempestuous period, including a decline in their competitiveness. Their chief technical officer Adrian Newey resigned in April last year, at least partly as a result of the allegations against Horner. Newey - regarded as the greatest F1 designer in history - now works for Aston Martin.In July last year, long-time sporting director Jonathan Wheatley also resigned. He is now team principal of Sauber, which next year is morphing into Audi's factory team.And in September Red Bull head of strategy Will Courtenay signed for McLaren. He is currently being held to his contract and is expected to join his new team at some point next year.
While Verstappen won his fourth consecutive world title last season, the Dutchman won only twice in the final 13 races of the year and Red Bull finished third in the constructors' championship.This year, Verstappen is third in the drivers' championship with just two wins in the first 12 races and the team fourth in the constructors' championship, and Red Bull have been engulfed by speculation about whether the Dutchman might leave for Mercedes at the end of the season.Brown has had a strained relationship with Horner over the past few years.He said Red Bull's breaching of the budget cap in 2021 "constitutes cheating", and in an interview with BBC Sport last summer Brown said he and Horner "used to get on".Brown has taken a less provocative approach to Horner this year, but has not hidden his disdain for Red Bull's sniping about the legality of the McLaren car behind the scenes.At the Miami Grand Prix, he drank from a bottle labelled "tyre water", a reference to Horner complaining to the FIA about their belief that McLaren were using water to cool their tyres. Brown considered the allegation spurious, and said it had no foundation in reality.He described the bottle as "poking fun at a serious issue".Brown said: "Teams have historically made allegations of other teams - most recently one team focuses on that strategy more than others. And I think that there is a proper way to protest a team at the end of a race, and you have to make it formal, disclose where it comes from, put some money down."
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Graffard ‘never had any doubts', as Calandagan shows his true colours
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Graffard ‘never had any doubts', as Calandagan shows his true colours

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Graffard ‘never had any doubts', as Calandagan shows his true colours
Graffard ‘never had any doubts', as Calandagan shows his true colours

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  • South Wales Guardian

Graffard ‘never had any doubts', as Calandagan shows his true colours

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Graffard ‘never had any doubts', as Calandagan shows his true colours
Graffard ‘never had any doubts', as Calandagan shows his true colours

The Herald Scotland

time11 minutes ago

  • The Herald Scotland

Graffard ‘never had any doubts', as Calandagan shows his true colours

Francis-Henri Graffard never had any doubts and although relief may have been the overriding emotion when Calandagan opened his Group One account in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud last month, this was a moment of sweet vindication for the Aga Khan team who have stood steadfast behind their star middle-distance performer. 'I never had any doubts about his willingness to win and every time he has been beaten he has had excuses,' said Graffard. 'He was really far back in the Juddmonte International and he quickened really strongly, just too late, and in Dubai he again finished strongly when beaten by a very good horse. At Epsom, I had plenty of excuses, but I could never say it was because he didn't want to try. 'Mickael (Barzalona) knows him better now and he loves good ground and the mile-and-a-half distance. I think there can't be any more doubt about his willingness to win.' Having caused a 25-1 shock with Goliath 12 months ago, Graffard this time had the 11-10 favourite on his side and a horse who could quite rightfully class Ascot as his second home. A regular at British passport control, he once again displayed his liking for crossing the Channel, this time around taking home £850,650 after Barzalona delivered his mount with precision to deny Andrew Balding's top-class filly. Graffard added: 'I thought the filly might have got away and when she quickened I thought 'oh my god, I'm going to be beaten a neck again'. 'But Mickael said he was waiting and he really helped him to balance. He said the last 200 metres are long here and he knew he was going to catch her. 'The way he can quicken is very impressive, he's a very good horse and now we know whatever tactics the opposition have we can be competitive in these top races.' For Graffard, a second win in one of the season's key contests cements his position as one of the leading trainers in the world. Having shown himself to be a powerhouse on home soil, he is now proving it on the global stage, again displaying his willingness to venture into enemy territory and make a daring raid on the spoils. 'I love the sport and competition and when you have a top horse in good form, I think it is important to challenge yourself against the best possible opposition,' said Graffard. 'That is how you can really level-up the quality of your horses and English racing is so strong. I came to Royal Ascot with a really strong team of horses and left disappointed, so it is not easy. When you win, it makes it even more joyful. 'The season has been very strong for me so far, we're just starting the second half now and I've just had a week off to recharge and the stats have been very strong for the stable, so we need to keep bringing the winners and we are working very hard.' By emulating the achievement of countryman Maurice Zilber – trainer of 1973 and 1974 winner Dahlia – he has now done what many of his contemporaries, including even the great Andre Fabre, have so far failed to achieve. Dahlia and Zilber were of course thwarted in 'the race of the century' when seeking a King George hat-trick 50 years ago. But on the day next year's Ascot feature was boosted to a swelling £2million prize-pot, the lure of one of the sport's greatest races is sure to prove a tempting proposition once again. 'Hopefully. It's an amazing race and I'm not sure why it is not on the agenda for more horses and stables,' said Graffard when asked about seeking a third win in the race. 'It's a fantastic race and of course you don't just come for the prize-money. If my horses are in good form I would definitely come back again.'

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