F1 News Today: True Impact of Ricciardo Exit Revealed as Horner’s Red Bull F…read more
The Formula 1 world is no stranger to seismic shifts, but few could have anticipated the chain reaction set off by Daniel Ricciardo’s unexpected exit from Red Bull Racing. Now, months after the dust began to settle, new insights reveal the true extent of the fallout — and why Christian Horner’s future at the helm of Red Bull may be more uncertain than ever.
Ricciardo’s Departure: A Catalyst for Instability
When Daniel Ricciardo made the bold move to leave Red Bull Racing at the end of the 2018 season, it sent shockwaves through the paddock. At the time, Ricciardo cited a desire for a “new challenge” and a “fresh environment” after five seasons with the team. Many assumed he was seeking a clear No. 1 status, away from the rising star that was Max Verstappen.
But recent revelations suggest deeper cracks within Red Bull’s structure had already formed — cracks that Ricciardo’s departure would widen dramatically. Sources close to the team now claim that Ricciardo’s decision reflected broader dissatisfaction with management decisions and internal politics. Tensions were reportedly high between Ricciardo and senior figures, including Christian Horner, as favoritism towards Verstappen became more overt.
What seemed like a personal career decision has now been reinterpreted as the first warning sign of larger instability inside the Red Bull camp — instability that has only grown more difficult to contain.
Verstappen’s Rise and the Balance of Power
Following Ricciardo’s exit, Max Verstappen rapidly solidified his position as Red Bull’s centerpiece. The team reorganized itself almost entirely around him, culminating in back-to-back championships in 2021 and 2022. However, this success story masked underlying risks.
Insiders suggest that the concentration of power around Verstappen has caused friction with other drivers, staff members, and even partners. Some key personnel reportedly departed the team feeling marginalized, as development directions and strategic decisions increasingly catered to Verstappen’s driving style and preferences.
Meanwhile, Horner’s leadership, once seen as dynamic and pragmatic, is being questioned. Critics within and outside Red Bull argue that Horner allowed the balance of the team to tilt too far towards a single driver, a strategy that could backfire dramatically if results dip or Verstappen’s loyalty wavers.
Horner Under Pressure: The Power Struggle Within
Compounding the situation is the ongoing internal power struggle within Red Bull’s broader motorsport operations, especially after the tragic death of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022. Without Mateschitz’s strong guidance, a vacuum of authority has emerged, and different factions are vying for influence.
Christian Horner, who has been Team Principal since Red Bull entered Formula 1 in 2005, now faces intensified scrutiny from senior executives in both Austria and Thailand, where Red Bull’s ownership is divided. Some factions reportedly favor a leadership shake-up to modernize operations and prevent Verstappen’s dominance from becoming a liability.
Rumors have intensified that high-ranking officials are quietly assessing Horner’s long-term fit with the team. While no official decisions have been made, several credible sources suggest that if Red Bull’s on-track performance wobbles or off-track controversies escalate, Horner’s position could become untenable by the end of the season.
What Comes Next?
For now, Red Bull continues to dominate races, with Verstappen leading the driver standings comfortably. But F1 history teaches that dominance is fragile — one regulation change, one internal implosion, or one driver switch can upend everything.
If Verstappen were ever to seek a new challenge — something he has hinted at occasionally — Red Bull could find itself in a leadership and competitive crisis overnight. Given the growing unease inside the camp, it’s not impossible to envision a scenario where both Horner and Verstappen reassess their futures simultaneously.
As for Daniel Ricciardo, the Australian driver’s own career took a winding path through Renault, McLaren, and back to a Red Bull-affiliated team (AlphaTauri) before stepping away again. Yet his decision to leave in 2018 now seems more prescient than naive. Ricciardo may have been one of the first to sense the impending tectonic shifts inside Red Bull Racing — shifts that are still reverberating today.
