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
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an hour ago
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