I wonder if Horner’s release is a last ditch effort to keep Max

My son and I were just texting about Horner termination . I wonder if he will replace Vasseur at Ferrari ? I personally think Max will be in a Mercedes next year . Only time will tell .

I wonder if this is the beginning of the end of RBR. I can see the team slipping down further into midfield with the exodus of key elements. Will be interesting to see how it unfolds.

Incredible news. It will be fascinating to watch how RB performs for the rest of the season.

I wonder if/how Horner will stay in F1. I was not a fan of how he did his job, but he sure was good at it.

It's pretty easy to say RBR is in a transition period . They have been incredibly successful for the 20 years Horner has been at the helm . They have lost some talent but still have plenty of expertise in house . I personally think Marko has to go so the team can be left to do a reset .

Now is as good a time as any . They are probably out of the constructors championship and Max is hanging on for an unlikely drivers championship . Rumors are their Ford engine collaboration for 2026 is behind schedule and internally they think the engine may not be at the top . The real question is what will Max do ?

Max has the ability to make the team better . While his attitude is not the greatest he is the best driver on the grid . Does he have the will/desire to stay and fight every day to make the team better ? Or is a change of scenery the way to go ? He knows all the inner workings of the team , so if he doesn't like the 2026 chassis and engine progress we will know soon enough .

Every sport has dominant teams that win championships and then hit the wall . Age/$$$/players leaving all contribute to championship teams ending their reign . And then they rebuild . Let's see how the next 2-3 years play out .

F1 is a toxic stab or be stabbed world at that level

Seen it unfold within different teams many times, only one or two team principles have any sort of moral compass, rest are just ruthless, unpleasant individuals once they drop their media friendly fascade

I wholly agree as I find many corporate leaders and politicians to exhibit psychopathic traits. It would appear Gunther Steiner fit the bill perfectly.

How do you know when corporate leaders and politicians are lying

It's easy, you can see their lips moving :rolleyes:

I was surprised he didn't get sacked when he was caught banging a subordinate...

In all the time I watched F1 (since 1980 give or take) I've seen super dominant teams go downhill and yet somehow I am still surprised seeing it happen... Williams, McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes, now RB...
Yea !!!! Change is good. I am shocked Horner survived last year TBH.. I really hope that does not mean he accepted a job at Ferrari... Ferrari need him like they need a Briatore, I hope they choose to give Fred more time and don't act too italian so soon ! Even Todt took several years to right the ship...

Super happy for Hulk, I wish the commentators had explained more the new viewers that was a big deal for a guy who NEVER had a frontline car.

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Mr Brundle's take on it.

Now if Helmut goes, the team may be able to reset completely. Brining in the sister team prinicpal as the RB lead seems to suggest at least a stab at stability. I will be at Spa. should be interesting

And history will show that it's a long way back to the top, once those dominant teams have lost the mojo - IF they ever get it back before it just gets to be too much and the owners pack it in and sell off the assets.. Lotus. Tyrrell. Brabham. Renault.

Speaking of Horner, I remember being just as surprised when the news came out that Ron Dennis had been sacked. Nobody is untouchable in F1. (Okay, MAYBE Toto.)

^That would not be a bad idea. Except gardening leave or any inability to start ASAP would be a negative.

Can a team impose gardening leave when the team was the one who took the action? I always thought that was for folks that voluntarily ended (quit) their contract.

I think they said he is still an employee of RB, just not team manager... Really hope Ferrari does not fall for that and kill the modicum of stability they have with a good manager and drivers by trying to hire him...

The wacky world of F1 . Horner is fired as team principal/CEO but has to negotiate his release as a Red Bull employee :confused: . I would not be surprised if Alpine make him an offer he can't refuse . Like $$$ and a % of the team . Think about it , build the team up as a consistent performer/winner and the team's worth skyrockets . Everyone makes big $$$ and/or they sell the team and make even bigger $$$ .

He's walking away with a $60 million check, a hot wife, and other teams are fighting over him.
He doesn't need our sympathy ;)

I always thought that marko was trying to undermine Horner at every turn, looks like it finally worked.
Now we can sit back and enjoy watching it backfire on the helmut.
Nothing better than to see a rat get caught in his own trap.

Hot wife yet hassling younger female staff. I hope something good comes of this for that unfortunate young lady.

Not sure it was Marko only, probably Jos as well.