P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Christian Horner’s sacking by Red Bull might have come as a shock to some, but cracks continued to show just a few weeks ago, after comments about its 2026 F1 car that “surprised” Helmut Marko.
Christian Horner’s sudden departure from Red Bull was not entirely unexpected, as there were signs of friction within the team as recent as a few weeks ago. The decision to sack him, however, still came as a surprise to many. Horner had been vocal about the challenges the team will face with the new Formula 1 regulations and their partnership with Ford for a new engine. Despite his low expectations, Red Bull is confident in their capabilities and the personnel they have recently hired from other teams. Marko emphasized the level playing field that the new rules will bring, but also expressed caution, recalling how Mercedes dominated after the last major regulation change in 2014.
