"Up to Red Bull" to clarify Horner's dismissal - Vermeulen

      "They were unable to attract or retain talented individuals any longer."

      The entire Formula 1 community is speculating about what comes next following the shocking news on Wednesday. After navigating last year's 'sexting' scandal, a subsequent power struggle, and numerous prominent staff exits, Christian Horner has been abruptly dismissed by Red Bull.

      It is thought that this decision was made after his primary supporter, 51 percent owner Chalerm Yoovidhya, finally capitulated and concurred with the Austrian faction of the business that he should be let go.

      Interestingly, this announcement coincided with the day Mercedes' executive board approved a proposal to entice Max Verstappen to their team for 2026 and beyond. "A coincidence? Hardly," noted the Austrian newspaper Osterreich.

      Post-race at Silverstone, which was another challenging event for Verstappen, Horner was observed having a disagreement with Max's influential father, Jos. "You could tell Jos was far from pleased with the situation," former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher shared with Sky Deutschland, acknowledging that his critique of Horner placed him on a "blacklist."

      Schumacher believes Horner's two-decade tenure at Red Bull has reached its end. "Ultimately, they were no longer able to attract or retain quality people," he stated. "They simply did not want to come because of his character."

      Further rumors indicate that Horner was likely preparing to once again attempt to dislodge consultant Dr. Helmut Marko or impede a potential investment from the Verstappen camp in the Milton-Keynes-based team. "His team is probably looking to acquire shares, similar to what Toto Wolff did at Mercedes," former F1 driver Vitaly Petrov commented on Telegram.

      Bernie Ecclestone, a long-time ally of Horner, stated that the 51-year-old was taken aback by the news on Wednesday. Dutch racing figure Tom Coronel speculated: "Something must have transpired to create a sense of urgency. This indicates to me that something is wrong. There must have been an underlying issue," he told the Dutch magazine Formule 1.

      Mika Salo concurs, stating to Ilta Sanomat: "I believe there is something happening behind the scenes that the public is not aware of. There’s nothing more to say unless you know the details."

      Two of Horner's associates - communications chief Paul Smith and marketing head Oliver Hughes - are departing alongside him, and there are already speculations that he might head to Ferrari or Alpine. Alpine chief and Horner associate Flavio Briatore extended his well-wishes for Horner’s "next adventure."

      Four-time world champion Verstappen has remained silent regarding the latest developments concerning Horner's future during recent races, but reports suggest he had a meeting with CEO Oliver Mintzlaff just days ago. Max and Jos’s manager Raymond Vermeulen was cautious with his comments on Wednesday: "It’s up to Red Bull to disclose the reasons behind the decision. From Red Bull’s perspective, this is the best way forward," he added. "It’s up to the parent company to hire individuals and make strategic decisions."

      Regarding the future, Vermeulen concluded: "Nothing changes for us. We continue to focus on the sporting aspect and seek improved performance so that we can return to the top." A correspondent for Sky Italia believes Verstappen was "leveraging the Mercedes offer" to initiate changes at Red Bull. "The Dutchman requested a second person to work alongside Horner. With this development, many opportunities arise, but I believe that Horner’s exit means Verstappen is set to honor his contract until 2028."

      Red Bull Racing, including the new Red Bull-Ford engine initiative, will now be led by Laurent Mekies, with Alan Permane stepping up at Racing Bulls. "We are looking forward to returning to the Formula 1 grid in 2026," stated a Ford representative.