Christian Horner’s sudden departure as Red Bull‘s Team Principal and CEO has come as a shock to the entire Formula 1 community, and perhaps, most of all, to him.
Horner was at the helm of the Milton Keynes-based squad for the entirety of its existence, having previously been boss of his own Formula 3000 [now F2] team, Arden.
His longevity made him part of Red Bull’s identity, and his name and image went hand in hand with the team. That is, until now.
Despite speculation having mounted about his future with the team, Horner himself seemed secure in his role, discussing the way that the position of Team Principal differs from team to team at last weekend’s British Grand Prix.
“I think every team structure is different,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“The role of a Team Principal in different teams, whilst the job title carries the name, the definition of the role is very different.
“McLaren have activities in IndyCar, in sports cars, across a whole host of different activities. At Red Bull Racing, I have a clear structure that reports into me, similar to probably Andy [Cowell, Aston Martin Team Principal] does or Toto Wolff does, where you have the main faculties that report into me.
“Pierre Wache [Red Bull Technical Director] probably performs 80 per cent of the role that perhaps Andrea [Stella] does at McLaren.”
‘Strength in depth’ now evident as Mekies takes over
Horner pinpointed the “tight” structure at Red Bull and talked about the strong core that’s been assembled, intimating there was no need to change a winning formula.
However, it now appears that the structure may differ, as Laurent Mekies, the now-ex-boss of sister outfit Racing Bulls, has taken over as CEO, but not Team Principal.
“It’s just a different job title, different functions, different set-up,” Horner had explained. “It’s a set-up that’s worked incredibly well for us on track and off track.
“We have a very tight senior management, a very strong structure. We got strength in depth.
“We don’t feel, and I certainly don’t feel, that there’s a need to change or tune it.
“Of course, you’re always tuning as an organisation and optimizing, but our structure, the way it is positioned, is very, very clear.”
READ MORE – Christian Horner sacked by Red Bull, Laurent Mekies named new CEO
