With Christian Horner sacked, Red Bull closes a chapter that encompasses the team’s highs and lows, including dominant eras with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, but also the recent downturn in performance.
The narrative to Thai shareholders, suggesting outgoing members were replaceable and Horner as the key to success, lost credibility by 2025.
Red Bull’s decline has been striking, from winning almost every race in 2023 to likely missing out on world titles midway through 2025.
McLaren’s progress highlights Red Bull’s complexity: the RB21’s development stagnation and operational errors post-Wheatley’s departure indicate a deeper issue beyond quick fixes.
The upcoming upgrades won’t salvage 2025, as rebuilding takes time – a challenge looming with or without Horner at the helm, as Verstappen’s pivotal role in the team’s success poses a significant question mark for the future.
