Sources refute speculation regarding Christian Horner's dismissal.

      "I have full faith in each and every employee."

      Rumors suggesting that Imola could be Christian Horner's last Formula 1 race as head of Red Bull Racing are losing credibility. The scandal and leadership crises that affected Horner and the team's 2024 season have mostly settled down, although they led to the exit of notable figures like Adrian Newey, which may be contributing to current car performance issues.

      However, the Osterreich newspaper, known for its exclusive interviews with team advisor Dr. Helmut Marko, has reported shocking news that Horner is likely to leave after this weekend's race in Imola. A British newspaper, however, has quoted a Red Bull source denying these rumors.

      Bild, Germany’s largest newspaper, concurs, stating, "Bild cannot confirm this information," while discussing the speculation surrounding Horner’s potential departure. The paper also mentioned that Red Bull co-CEO Oliver Mintzlaff is "dissatisfied" with the current situation but "still has faith in the current leadership." Indeed, during a recent interview at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Mintzlaff commented, "I have complete confidence in every single employee. This also applies to our management team. Helmut and Christian both desire the utmost success and will prioritize that."

      The Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung supports the notion that Horner has "absolutely no reason to worry about his job - on the contrary." The report elaborated that the 51-year-old team principal has been working on advancing his position within the Red Bull organization for a considerable time, with previous rumors suggesting he might be elevated to a management role.

      Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher expressed to Sky Deutschland that he finds it "hard to believe" that Imola will mark Horner’s final race leading Red Bull. "I hadn’t heard anything about it myself," he stated. Schumacher believes that Pierre Wache, the team’s technical director, should be the one most concerned about his job security, remarking, "He clearly can’t be relied upon to optimize the car."

      He asserted that Horner shouldn't be held accountable for the notable departures at Red Bull, including Newey, Jonathan Wheatley, Will Courtenay, and others. "There was always going to be a point where individuals would leave for other teams," Schumacher noted. "That was also the case at Mercedes. Regardless of circumstances, he wouldn’t have been able to retain everyone."

      Nevertheless, Schumacher acknowledges that Horner is still addressing significant challenges at Red Bull, such as performance and internal "unrest." "That’s true," said the six-time Grand Prix winner. "But who could step in for Horner tomorrow? It’s not an easy task. With his experience, Franz Tost could manage a transitional phase, or even lead for a year or two. However, Franz is not the future, mainly due to his age," Schumacher remarked.

      Bild has also indicated that a key component of Red Bull's car upgrade for Imola is a new front wing. "If the results don’t begin to improve now," he predicts, "the sponsors and shareholders will eventually become anxious."