
Christian Horner's fate may have been sealed after ‘cold' interaction with Red Bull owners at Austrian Grand Prix
Horner was
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Christian Horner reportedly endured a cold reception at the Austria Grand Prix
Credit: Getty
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Chalerm Yoovidhya holds the majority 51 per cent stake in Red Bull
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Horner has faced a turbulent 18 months on and off the track, after
The Brit, 51, has had several rows with Jos Verstappen, father of star driver Max, since the fallout, with several high-profile figures quitting the team, including legendary chief designer
Adrian
Newey.
Reports of hostility among Red Bull's team have continued to grow even after Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing by an internal
investigation
.
And there has been reports of a growing rift between Horner and Red Bull's Thai owners, who chose not to sack him after the scandal broke.
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F1
journalist Joal Lischika reported seeing the owners greet Horner "coldly" in the hospitality unit at the
Austria
Grand Prix weekend in June.
The Yoovidhya family, through Chalerm Yoovidhya, holds the majority 51 per cent stake, while the late Dietrich Mateschitz's son, Mark Mateschitz, inherited his 49 per cent share.
To make matters worse Red Bull suffered its worst home
race
result in recent
history
, with Max Verstappen crashing out after three laps after being hit by
Mercedes
No2 Kimi Antontelli.
Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda had a particularly difficult time, being lapped twice on his way to finish dead-last of those who crossed the chequered flag.
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Max Verstappen was wiped out by Kimi Antonelli in Austria
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Despite reports, Horner and the majority owners put on a show of unity as they posed for pictures in the paddock in Austria
Credit: AFP
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Four-time world champion Verstappen, 27, qualified down in seventh, while Tsunoda finished qualifying in P18.
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Despite reports, Horner and the majority owners put on a show of unity as they posed for pictures in the paddock in Austria on June 29.
But according to Lischika, there was apparently a growing feeling that Horner simply held too much
power
, after taking charge of operations during Red Bull's inception in 2005.
Red Bull's Christian Horner gives low down on car before F1 season kicks off with Australian Grand Prix
Horner, married to Spice Girl Geri Haliwell, was chairman of Red Bull Racing, Red Bull
Technology
, Red Bull
Power
Trains, and marketing.
The owners have since appointed
Laurent Mekies as the new CEO of
Red Bull Racing
, stepping up from the Racing Bulls team.
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Horner reportedly had another row with
Jos
at Silverstone on Sunday, according to former
F1
driver
Schumacher told the Boxengasse-podcast: "There was another argument or a heated exchange, at least visually and verbally between Jos, Christian Horner, and the press officer.
"You could see that Jos was anything but happy with the situation".
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Geri and Christian appeared hand in hand at the Bahrain Grand Prix after the scandal broke
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It comes after a series of rows between Verstappen Snr and Horner, with the Dutchman repeatedly calling for Horner's dismissal after the
Horner's wife Geri was reportedly devastated by the scandal, but
stood by her husband in showing signs
of solidarity at key races.
In total, Horner won
EIGHT
drivers' championships and six constructors' titles.
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For the first time ever, a new team principal, Mekies, will lead Red Bull at the Belgian Grand Prix on July 27 after a three week break.
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Irish Examiner
16 minutes ago
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The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Now you're quiet' – Nico Rosberg in frosty exchange with Jos Verstappen over Christian Horner after Red Bull sacking
NICO ROSBERG and Jos Verstappen shared a frosty exchange over Christian Horner's Red Bull sacking. Horner was following a string of woeful results at the team. 2 Martin Brundle, Jos Verstappen and Nico Rosberg It also came amid rumoured friction between Jos - who raced professionally from 1994-2003 - was probed about Horner's exit by Martin Brundle at the Belgian GP. Brundle asked: "Big changes in the team. Are you and Max and everybody happy with where it's going so far?" Jos replied: "Well, they decided to change so I'm fine with everything. So as long as it works." READ MORE IN F1 Former F1 champion Rosberg, working for Sky Sports, awkwardly gatecrashed the interview. And he told Jos: "Last year, you said Horner needs to go!" Jos replied: "That was one and a half year ago. It's different. I have nothing to say. It's fine." Rosberg then added: "Now you're quiet?" Most read in Motorsport Jos responded: "I'm always quiet." Reigning world champ Verstappen still has three years left on his Red Bull deal but remains linked with a move to Mercedes. Christian Horner 'in tears' during farewell speech to Red Bull employees as sacked boss admits decision came as 'shock' But the Dutchman insisted Horner's exit will have no bearing on his future with Red Bull. He said: "No, it doesn't really. Now, I think people can have a difference of opinion here and then. "And I actually expect that to happen because if everyone always agrees, there is a problem. You need to have difference of opinions. "And yeah, that's now something that we work with in a different direction. I'm excited about it. "Like you said, I don't think it will matter at all for my decision in the future. "And yet, the only thing that matters is that we work on the car and make it as fast as we can make it, really. "And like I said, the last one and a half years have not been what we want to be. "Now we try and be more competitive this year a little bit, but for sure also with the new regulations." 2 Max Verstappen insisted Horner's exit will have no bearing on his future with Red Bull Credit: PA