Berger uncertain if Mekies possesses Horner's 'killer instinct'

      "I believe Mekies is a strong choice for Red Bull Racing."

      Christian Horner's "foolish" actions played a role in his downfall at Red Bull, as his close friend and confidant Bernie Ecclestone acknowledges. According to Bild newspaper, a pivotal moment for the 51-year-old last week was his refusal to relinquish control of overall marketing at the second team, Racing Bulls.

      "The reality is that some people felt he was getting away with too much, acting as if it were Christian Horner's ring rather than the Red Bull ring," former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone told the Telegraph. "He managed to escape consequences for so long. As long as you’re delivering results, people turn a blind eye - but once you stop delivering, they start to pay attention."

      Horner's personal scandal from last year, which involved inappropriate messaging with a now-unhappy former employee, did not help his position. "He was just being foolish," Ecclestone concurs. "He was a 50-year-old who acted like he was 20, thinking he was one of the guys."

      Nevertheless, the abrupt mid-season change at Red Bull caught many insiders in the Formula 1 paddock off guard. "They might have had a significant clash," said former Bridgestone and Ferrari engineer Kees van der Grint on Viaplay. "I find it to be a very odd situation, but I'm not fully informed about it."

      Red Bull's declining performance and staff departures certainly didn't aid the situation. "You can hold Horner accountable for that as the head of the entire company," the Dutchman noted, "but ultimately, he isn’t the one constructing that car."

      Regardless of what transpired, the responsibility has now shifted to Laurent Mekies, who has been promoted from within Racing Bulls. "I've worked with Laurent before," said F1 legend Gerhard Berger, Red Bull's first sponsored athlete, in an interview with Krone newspaper. "He was with me at Ferrari, we worked together at Toro Rosso, and also at the FIA," the Austrian continued. "He has a good approach and possesses a deep understanding of Formula 1, having held various roles.

      "Whether he has the necessary killer instinct for such a large team competing at the forefront remains to be seen. However, I believe Mekies is a solid choice for Red Bull Racing."