According to Windsor, Hamilton choosing Ferrari is not a brave decision but logical. The seven-time world champion isn’t gambling on Ferrari being quicker than Mercedes. In fact, Windsor suggests that Hamilton just wants to enjoy the twilight years of his F1 career, away from all the drama and negativity, which started becoming a norm at Mercedes over the last two years.

On the CameronF1 podcast, Windsor explained,

“He’s thinking, ‘I’m at the backend of my career, I really want to enjoy my Formula 1. I’m really not enjoying it at the moment, even if Mercedes is a quick car, I’ve got all this drama with George [Russell]. I just want a change of scenery, I want to enjoy my life, I want to breathe.'”

Red Bull team principal Horner compared this move to Hamilton’s shock transfer from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013. At that time, the move was thought to be a mistake, but Hamilton ended up winning six titles with the Silver Arrows. The tough decision that Hamilton made, turned him into an F1 legend. Horner feels that this bravery could pay dividends once again.

Windsor on the other hand believes that Hamilton is chasing peace of mind and being more relaxed at Ferrari could also help him perform better out on the track.

Has George Russell forced Lewis Hamilton out of Mercedes?

Windsor is a firm believer that one of the major factors driving Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes at the end of this season is his teammate George Russell. It is widely speculated that Hamilton never really wanted Russell alongside him at Mercedes. Instead, he preferred the companionship of Valtteri Bottas.

That being said, at the end of 2021, the team and especially Toto Wolff believed it was the right time to bid farewell to Bottas. Mercedes thought  Russell was the perfect candidate to shadow and eventually take over the reigns from Hamilton. In other words, from Hamilton’s point of view, Mercedes was probably planning for a future without him.

Toto Wolff has already endorsed George Russell to lead the Mercedes #F1 team once Lewis Hamilton departs for Ferrari in 2025

But that doesn’t change the fact that the coming 2024 campaign is filled with pressure for Russell, as @Nauckas explains

— Autosport (@autosport) February 14, 2024

This may have miffed the seven-time champion to an extent. Additionally, in his very first season alongside Hamilton, Russell beat him in the championship standings. This might as well have started the countdown on Hamilton’s stint with the team.

From 2025 onwards, Hamilton and Russell will go up against each other, suiting up for different teams.

The post “Not a Brave Decision”: Ex-Team Boss Denounces Max Verstappen and Christian Horner’s Praise for Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Move appeared first on The SportsRush.

Formula One Management took a serious interest in the allegations. They were quick to put pressure on the Austrian team to conduct an investigation and come out clean. Stain in Horner or Red Bull means it’s also applicable to Formula One Management as a whole, hence the urgency.

The energy drink brand was quick to react to the situation and call for an investigation. Citing this, Helmut Marko, the advisor to the team, lauded Red Bull. Speaking about this, Marko said to Red Bull’s Servus TV as per Motorsport, “As you know, this is an internal investigation. The sooner a result is available, the better because of course, rumors and other stories are bound to sprout due to the long duration.”

Christian Horner is present at today’s Red Bull shakedown, and is expected to attend the team’s car launch this week

The investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour is continuing and could take ‘some weeks’ to concludepic.twitter.com/KDt3Px135X

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 13, 2024

“[But] I think Red Bull has reacted very well in this matter. The long duration of this investigation is not their fault. They are endeavoring to [have] a fair investigation and then react accordingly,” he further added. Initially, Red Bull wanted to conclude the investigation before the launch of RB20, but due to the complications involved, it wasn’t possible.

Red Bull often finds itself in controversy. Be it the 2021 budget cap breach, or the internal tussle between Marko and Horner, they always make it to the headlines. However, this time, the allegations are enormously serious and can lead to the end of Horner’s career if proven right.

Horner believes the investigation distracted the season preparation

Christian Horner faced the allegations right before the start of the 2024 season. To be exact, a week before Red Bull launched their RB20. Post-launch, the team also needs to go to Bahrain for the testing on February 21, which is a week before the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix.

During this, the team faced a ‘draconian’ distraction caused by the investigation. Having to see the boss go under inquiry for such a serious allegation dampens the spirit of the team. But the British boss believes otherwise. According to him, the team has unity and focus on the upcoming season amid the distraction.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner denies all allegations of inappropriate behaviour and also insists there is no rift in the team.pic.twitter.com/VHliii38LR

— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) February 15, 2024

Speaking on this, Horner said according to Motorsport, “We’re fully focused on going racing. Looking forward to being in Bahrain next week and seeing RB20 run. And the one thing that focuses everybody’s attention is the car. We’re very united and together in that focus.”

The 50-year-old boss confirmed to stay in his position in Red Bull when the F1 season starts in Bahrain. Something he followed when Red Bull launched the RB20 with Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez, and him last week.

When it comes to allegations, Horner denied them all. However, the latest reports say his lawyers offered the victim a settlement of $816,000 to take back the case. Nonetheless, the verdict of the investigation is still to come out and it is just a wait of the hour now.

The post Helmut Marko Defends Red Bull Amidst Intense Christian Horner Investigation appeared first on The SportsRush.

The Spaniard told DAZN, as quoted by F1i.com, “I think it’s a very nice car, very different from the 2023 one. Ferrari’s engineers have innovated, there are things on the car that cannot be seen and which are purely Ferrari ideas which I am sure will give us greater performance.”

Furthermore, Sainz also added how the engineers at Maranello took elements from different teams to put them on the SF-24. He specifically mentioned Mercedes, Aston Martin, and Red Bull’s parts. But the #55 driver also asserted how this is very common in Formula 1. In the end, the SF-24 is purely masterminded by Ferrari, assured Sainz.

The moment you’ve all been waiting for…

The SF-24 is here!! pic.twitter.com/KVEcU5929j

— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 13, 2024

Despite taking the only non-Red Bull victory in Singapore, Ferrari finished in distant third place in the Constructors’ Championship. They had 406 points compared to Red Bull’s 860. This prompted the Italian team to go for a complete overhaul of their last year’s challenger.

Nevertheless, Ferrari believes in the new SF-24 and hopes to reduce the massive gap they had against Red Bull. With Lewis Hamilton all set to arrive next season, they need to be in a really good place to help the seven-time world champion have a shot at the world championship.

Can Ferrari go toe-to-toe against Red Bull in 2024?

2023 saw Red Bull take a massive leap against its rivals when they took 21 wins out of 22 races. Their dominance was so supreme that Mercedes and Ferrari’s points gathered together were not enough to match the Milton Keynes team in the Constructors’ Championship.

2024 is the third year under these regulations. Therefore, experts believe Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, and Aston Martin have a better understanding of the regulations and can close the gap with Max Verstappen and Co. However, matching them or beating them might be out of the question this season.

NEW SEASON, NEW HELMET
Rethinking the pattern!
Sticking to my colors!

–@ScuderiaFerrari #Carlossainz pic.twitter.com/y5WUbg6SGt

— Carlos Sainz (@Carlossainz55) February 13, 2024

Red Bull launched the RB20 recently, and it baffled the fans. Adrian Newey brought in radical changes in the car with a vertical sidepod inlet and experts believe this is a massive jump toward the team’s upcoming dominance. While rivals were busy incorporating and taking inspiration from the RB19, Newey went a step ahead of the rest with RB20.

As for Carlos Sainz, he has to leave the team at the end of this season but remains committed to Ferrari for the time being. Despite proving his worth and being as good as Charles Leclerc, the Spaniard will have to part ways with Ferrari for Lewis Hamilton in 2025.

The post Carlos Sainz Refutes Christian Horner’s 2024 Prophecy: “Purely Ferrari Ideas” appeared first on The SportsRush.

Amid the shocking allegations against Horner, Auto Motor und Sport put out a report that reveals the various individuals that can replace the 50-year-old if Red Bull GmbH does end up sacking him. As per the report, “If there is an internal solution, team manager Jonathan Wheatley could take the helm. Brand ambassador David Coulthard would also be an alternative”.

Although Coulthard may not have achieved the kind of success that Vettel achieved with Red Bull Racing, the Scottish driver was yet one of the most prominent figures of the team. After racing for McLaren for nine years, Coulthard joined Red Bull Racing in their formative years, building the foundation before Vettel replaced him in 2009.

He competed in four full seasons for the Milton Keynes-based outfit and clinched two podiums with them, including the team’s first at the 2006 Monaco Grand Prix. While Coulthard was arguably a part of one of Red Bull Racing’s most cherished memories, it is pertinent to note that he does not have any significant leadership experience.

When it comes to leadership, Red Bull Racing just cannot look past Horner. The 50-year-old has led the side from their very first season in 2005. Since he is such a key figure, the team have not taken any decision to sideline him. They just await for Red Bull GmbH’s investigation to conclude and for a decision to come from the parent company.

Christian Horner has denied allegations of “inappropriate behavior” altogether

Christian Horner has made his stance clear on the allegations of “inappropriate behavior” by denying any wrongdoing. In a recent interview with Sky Sports’ Craig Slater, Horner revealed that he is just waiting for the investigation to conclude, one that he labeled as a mere “distraction” for his side.

Although Horner may have denied the allegations, F1 seems to be growing increasingly impatient. They recently released a statement, urging Red Bull GmbH to conclude their investigation as soon as possible.

Since the nature of the allegations is so serious, F1 perhaps does not want to begin the 2024 season and have a team principal who is still under investigation. What makes matters worse is that there have constantly been all kinds of reports that add to further speculations about why is Red Bull GmbH finding it so difficult to make a decision.

For example, as per a report from the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Horner’s lawyers shockingly attempted to reach a settlement with the female employee following her allegations of “inappropriate behavior” against the Briton. The report adds that Horner’s lawyers attempted to pay the employee $820,000 in compensation.

However, despite such allegations, Horner was present for Red Bull’s RB20 launch. For him and the rest of his team, it seemed business as usual. The Red Bull Racing team simply ignored the background chatter and had a successful launch.

The post Christian Horner Can Be Replaced by Sebastian Vettel’s Predecessor at Red Bull appeared first on The SportsRush.

As quoted by Fastest Pitstop’s X handle, F1’s statement reads,

“We have noted Red Bull has instigated an independent investigation into internal allegations at Red Bull Racing. We hope (the) matter will be clarified at (the) earliest opportunity, after a fair & thorough process. Will not comment further at this time“.

F1 too, seems to be growing increasingly desperate for Red Bull to come to a conclusion since an ongoing investigation against a current team principal will not bode well for the sport. What makes the matter worse is the nature of the allegations against the British boss.

Contrasting reports have emerged recently that gives more depth into these allegations made against Horner. Most reports suggest that Red Bull GmbH is investigating him after receiving an “inappropriate behavior” complaint from a female employee of the team.

Meanwhile, there is also another report that Horner is being investigated for harsh behavior towards his employees. Irrespective of what the nature of the allegation is, it is pertinent to note that Horner has denied any kind of “inappropriate behavior“.

Since Horner is such a key part of Red Bull Racing, he will continue as the team principal at least until the investigation continues. The team will ask him to step down, only if he is found guilty. However, since the nature of the allegations against Horner is so grave, the reports just do not end here.

Christian Horner’s lawyers reportedly tried to reach a settlement with the employee

According to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Christian Horner’s lawyers reportedly tried to reach a settlement with the employee, who launched the “inappropriate behavior” allegations against the Briton. The report adds that Horner’s lawyers offered the unnamed female employee $820,000 in compensation.

However, Horner has mentioned these reports as mere “distraction(s)“. The 50-year-old, who was present during Red Bull’s RB20 launch, said that his sole focus for 2024 is to help his side achieve success on the race track. He denied the allegations even then and said that he hopes that the ongoing investigation concludes soon.

Considering the nature of the allegations, no one from the team has spoken much about it. Even Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko, who is usually a nightmare for the team’s public relations department, chose to stay tight-lipped when asked about the allegations.

The Austrian simply stated (as quoted by planetf1.com), “I can’t say anything else on this subject. As long as the investigation is ongoing or there is no result, you won’t hear anything from me. It is an ongoing process“. Now, not just Red Bull, but the entire F1 fraternity is eagerly awaiting for the investigation of the team’s parent company to conclude.

The post Christian Horner News: What Did Formula 1 Say About Red Bull Boss’ Investigation? appeared first on The SportsRush.

“We definitely feel like we’ve taken a step forward”

Things McLaren fans will love to hear from Zak Brown pic.twitter.com/tojujeoAEW

— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) February 14, 2024

Mercedes faces an uphill task in finding an appropriate replacement for Hamilton. The situation at Ferrari is also tense, given their situation with Carlos Sainz, who has to vacate his seat. Red Bull continues to struggle internally with the Christian Horner allegations.

Taking everything into account, Brown expressed his happiness over the stability of his team. He added he was happy just to read about everything that was going on around them.

“We’ve got real stability. We’ve got visibility to our future. We’ve got youth on our side. And, yeah, there’s been a bit of chaos in Formula One here recently, and we’re glad to just be reading about it and not participating in it.”

Hoping to return to winning ways, McLaren is happy to see chaos unravel in the top three teams. The Woking-based team is doing their best to chase down Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull, and they appear to be in a very strong position. With all three teams weakened in some way, it might be the perfect opportunity for a stable McLaren team to capitalize.

McLaren drivers optimistic of beating Red Bull

Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are more than positive about the 2024 season. With a late surge in 2023, the driver duo believes their team has done enough to ensure they are equal to Red Bull in terms of performance. Despite often showcasing better one-lap pace, the McLaren cars could not keep up with Red Bull when it came to race pace.

However, Norris is confident the Red Bull team is “beatable.” While defeating them in a season-long battle remains a challenge, Norris is certain McLaren will go home with a few wins.

Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri remains wary of competition from other top teams. He, too, is optimistic about besting Red Bull on certain occasions but remains cautious in his approach. The Australian driver claimed that other teams would be looking for a resurgent season as well. Hence, McLaren needs to keep an eye on them.

Team Principal Andrea Stella has a much more pragmatic approach to things. He conceded that Red Bull will have the upper hand at the start of the season. However, Stella added that if they keep the development rates up, then they can be in a strong position.

The post ‘Reading, Not Participating’ Strategy Has McLaren Poised to Exploit Distracted Rivals appeared first on The SportsRush.

“I have a very supportive family and a very supportive wife. My job is now to focus on the season ahead,” said the 50-year-old boss according to a video by the Daily Mail. This is the deepest controversy Horner has been involved in during his tenure as Red Bull team principal, since he took up the role in 2005.

During Red Bull’s unveiling of the RB20 challenger, Horner revealed that he will stay on as the team principal. Along with the team, he will travel to Bahrain for the opening race on 2nd March, and oversee operations like he always does.

Horner found himself in hot waters after an employee accused him of “inappropriate behavior”. Because of this, their parent company in Austria called for an internal investigation. British publications reported earlier that the accusations against Horner devastated Halliwell. According to Horner, however, he has the full support of his wife.

An independent lawyer is currently finding out whether Horner is guilty, but the Red Bull boss himself has assembled a team to defend his interests. He is trying his best to keep everything under control.

Christian Horner fighting to save his reputation

Earlier this month, Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf published a sensational report that accused Christian Horner of contemplating monetary settlement. According to the report, the Horner camp offered a staggering $800,000 to the female employee for the settlement.

After they published the news, the Red Bull boss and his lawyers decided to sue them. Since Horner categorically denied all the claims, they opted to take legal proceedings against De Telegraaf.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner denies all allegations of inappropriate behaviour and also insists there is no rift in the team.pic.twitter.com/VHliii38LR

— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) February 15, 2024

These allegations against Horner also put Ford’s future association with Red Bull in jeopardy. Mark Rushbrook, the General Director of the American automobile company said on the ongoing investigation,

“As a family company that holds itself to very high standards of behavior and integrity, we expect the same from our partners.”

This sounded like a cold threat to the Austrian F1 team. Additionally, a few experts also believe that the allegations might have been instrumented by the power struggle between Helmut Marko, Jos Verstappen versus Christian Horner inside Red Bull.

The post Christian Horner Claims Wife Geri Halliwell Was ‘Very Supportive’ of Him Amidst ‘Inappropriate Behavior’ Allegations appeared first on The SportsRush.

The Times UK has suggested that the team wants to conclude the investigation against Horner before the season opener in Bahrain. While normally the investigation would have extended into the first race weekend of the 2024 season, the Milton Keynes team is eager to get this controversy behind them in light of all the negative speculation spreading around.

| Red Bull wants to conclude the investigation into Horner early next week.

Sources suggested the investigation could take until the opening race in Bahrain, but there is now a desire to accelerate the process in an effort to end the disruption as well as the uncertainty.… pic.twitter.com/Moj00bJNcd

— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) February 17, 2024

The existence of these allegations and the investigation first came to light at the beginning of February. Hence, the team were hoping to get a result before the RB20 launch that happened two days ago.

That being said, given the sensitive nature of the entire fiasco, Red Bull GmbH decided to let the investigation take its own course. However, they cannot take too long as crucial partners have begun to get nervous, as per recent reports.

Ford issues subtle warning to Red Bull as the fate of their 2026 alliance hangs in the balance

From 2026 onwards, Ford and Red Bull will be collaboratively designing and manufacturing the power units to be run by Red Bull, essentially making the Milton Keynes outfit a ‘works team‘. However, Ford seems to have sent a strict public warning to the Austrian energy drinks conglomerate as Christian Horner’s investigation takes one nasty turn after the other.

Ford Motor Company’s global director Mark Rushbrooke said, “As a family company that holds itself to very high standards of behavior and integrity, we expect the same from our partners. It appears to us and what we’ve been told was that Red Bull is taking the situation very seriously. And of course, they are worried about their brand, as well.”

| Bernie Ecclestone, as a close confidant of Horner, is said to have intervened in the investigation in an advisory capacity with several telephone conversations.

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is also reportedly very interested in the topic.#F1 pic.twitter.com/UPEvyZC5FJ

— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) February 11, 2024

The ramifications of this rift could spell disaster for Red Bull. If Ford decides to pull out of the project, it leaves the team with an unfinished power units project just two years before the latest engine regulations kick in.

Without exaggeration, this could result in Red Bull potentially falling into a mighty slump from 2026 onwards. Hence, unsurprisingly the team is eager to find a conclusion soon.

Moreover, the United States of America is very strict when it comes to allegations of inappropriate behavior or sexual misconduct in the workplace. Therefore, Liberty Media, F1’s commercial rights holders, would also be following this story with keen interest.

The post Christian Horner Investigation: Red Bull Prepare Early Judgment Deadline as Crucial Partners Grow Nervous appeared first on The SportsRush.

As per the recent narrative, Horner has been sending the employee some inappropriate messages. Following this, the employee brought up the issue with Red Bull GmbH, and the company hired an independent barrister to begin an inquiry.

However, another story from Motorsport Total claims that the Briton was given a chance to resolve the issue. For things to work properly, Horner had to voluntarily step down as the team’s boss. The organization would subsequently cite Horner’s health issues as the official cause of his resignation. However, Horner hasn’t accepted any such offer.

Following this as part of the investigation, the lawyer questioned Horner for about eight hours on February 9th. However, it came out that they confronted Horner with a dossier that contained pieces of evidence based on the employee’s claims.

While De Telegraaf has reportedly disclosed the details of the dossier, there are rumors that the publisher would be “legally vulnerable” if the allegations proved untrue. Motorsport Total reports that the Red Bull’s team boss has now filed a lawsuit against the publication.

What was Christian Horner’s plan for settling the case?

Christian Horner’s situation has garnered greater media coverage since last Monday. Moreover, the matter has also caught the owner of Formula 1 – Liberty Media’s attention. They are keeping a close eye on the situation. However, some reports also say that Red Bull’s two main partners, Ford and Oracle, are also paying close attention to the investigation.

This is because new allegations from the De Telegraaf claim that the accusations against Horner are primarily about alleged “sexual” misconduct and not exercising control over coercive behavior. The latest article from the Dutch publication claims Horner allegedly sent the female employee “sexually suggestive messages”.

Teambaas Christian Horner van Red Bull Racing beticht van seksueel grensoverschrijdend gedrag, zo blijkt uit berichten en documenten.

Advocaten van Brit (50) deden op 3 februari aanbod aan meldster om te schikken voor 650.000 pond. https://t.co/WXxwOgBRNR via @telegraaf

— Erik van Haren (@ErikvHaren) February 16, 2024

Furthermore, as per some other reports, the 50-year-old has done everything within his power to cover up the case. One of those attempts involves Horner’s lawyer making a $816,000 settlement offer.

Even though Horner has refuted these allegations, there could be serious repercussions if he is found guilty of any of these charges. Initially, the Red Bull boss would have to step down from his role, which would ruin his years of dedication and bring a bad reputation. Secondly, the absence of an influential figure like him will significantly hurt Red Bull’s pursuit of success.

The post Messy Christian Horner Situation Is Getting Out of Hand As New Lawsuits and Cover-Ups Get Exposed appeared first on The SportsRush.

Christian Horner joined both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez as soon as the event got underway to discuss the team’s advancement of the RB20. Even though the conversation was all about the 2024 car, the different energy in the room caught the attention of the journalists there.

The Guardian.com cited the observation of the media as “It was simply impossible to ignore the elephant in the room. Indeed, at this stage, Red Bull might have wheeled out the new car with Taylor Swift perched on the rear wing and every eye in the room would still have remained on Horner.”

Apart from this, another unexpected development was Red Bull’s direct announcement that no inquiries regarding the probe would be accepted. However, the media didn’t sit idle on the fiasco. They did make some inadvertent generic inquiries regarding Horner’s and Red Bull’s circumstances. Although Horner replied, it was still very clear that the always upbeat Horner had grown “dimmer” and ” mute.”

However, when the press posed a different question to Verstappen and Horner on Briton’s allegedly seriously broken relationship with Jos, none of them had any insightful comments to share.

What did Christian Horner say regarding his future as Red Bull team boss?

Red Bull dominated the track last year winning 21 out of 22 races. However heading into the 2024 season, Horner’s situation has cast a shadow over the team’s performance. It is because there have been rumors that the Red Bull’s parent company wishes to remove Horner from his position of authority.

Nevertheless denying any such allegations, the Briton said, “We’re very united. We’ve always had tremendous support from the shareholders since Dietrich’s passing.” Horner also mentioned the amount of money invested in the power trains on campus, citing it as the extraordinary backing of the shareholders.

Subsequently, the 50-year-old, acknowledged that although there was inevitably a distraction, his team is still intact. Even with Horner’s assurance, one thing is certain that is the team that ruled the track the previous year will continue to be in shadow.

Despite everything, Horner is unwavering in his determination to keep his focus on the next season. The British boss says that he is excited to see the recently released RB20 run in Bahrain the following week.

The post Even “New Car With Taylor Swift Perched on the Rear Wing” Couldn’t Cover the Dark Reality Behind Glitzy Red Bull Distractions appeared first on The SportsRush.