F1 Insider Suggests Role Change for Christian Horner F…read more
Christian Horner’s long-standing role as Red Bull Racing’s team principal has come under scrutiny following a controversial and disappointing Spanish Grand Prix in the 2025 Formula 1 season. Renowned F1 pundit and former Ferrari general manager Peter Windsor has suggested that Horner should consider stepping aside from his current position and instead take up a role as the team’s sporting director. This suggestion comes amid increasing criticism surrounding Red Bull’s strategic decisions and overall team performance in recent races.
The spotlight was firmly on Red Bull during the Spanish Grand Prix after a questionable strategic call during a safety car period significantly impacted Max Verstappen’s race. The team chose to pit Verstappen, despite the fact that the Dutch driver only had hard compound tyres remaining in his allocation. This left him with limited grip and ultimately led to frustration boiling over, culminating in a controversial and aggressive move on Mercedes’ George Russell. Verstappen was subsequently handed a 10-second time penalty for the incident, damaging both his race result and Red Bull’s reputation.
Windsor didn’t mince words in his assessment of the situation. On his YouTube channel, he criticised Red Bull’s strategic choices, labelling the decision to pit Verstappen as “the most ridiculous call in the history of bad strategies.” He emphasized that such an error might have been avoided had Jonathan Wheatley, the team’s former sporting director, still been in his position. Wheatley had served in the role since 2006 before departing at the end of the 2024 season to become team principal at Sauber. Since his departure, there has been no clear indication of who has filled the sporting director role at Red Bull, potentially leaving a crucial leadership void on race weekends.
Windsor proposed that if Red Bull has not yet identified a capable replacement for Wheatley, then Christian Horner himself should consider stepping into that role. The suggestion isn’t a critique of Horner’s past achievements, but rather a reflection of the team’s current struggles and the need for stronger tactical leadership during races. Windsor’s comments hint at a belief that Horner’s racing instincts and experience might be better utilised in a more focused, strategic position, particularly at a time when Red Bull appears to be faltering.
Since becoming team principal in 2005, Horner has overseen a remarkable era of success for Red Bull. Under his leadership, the team has secured six constructors’ championships and eight drivers’ titles, including four with Sebastian Vettel and three consecutive titles with Max Verstappen from 2021 to 2023. However, the tide began to shift in 2024. Red Bull not only lost their constructors’ crown after dominating in 2022 and 2023, but they also experienced significant internal upheaval. Aside from Wheatley’s departure, the team lost Adrian Newey, the legendary designer credited with shaping many of Red Bull’s dominant cars.
The 2024 season was also marred by controversy involving Horner himself. He faced allegations of inappropriate conduct from a female colleague, which he denied and was subsequently cleared of after an internal investigation. Despite maintaining his position, the scandal cast a shadow over the team, adding to the perception of instability.
As of the Spanish Grand Prix, Red Bull sits fourth in the 2025 constructors’ standings—an unfamiliar and uncomfortable position for a team used to leading the pack. Windsor’s suggestion may resonate with fans and analysts alike who have noticed a decline in Red Bull’s strategic sharpness and race-day execution.
While Horner remains a central figure in Red Bull’s Formula 1 legacy, Windsor’s recommendation may prompt internal discussions about how best to realign the team for future success. Whether Horner would be willing to relinquish his leadership role after two decades remains to be seen, but with the team’s fortunes slipping, change may be on the horizon.
