Dec.22 (GMM) Crimson Bull chief govt Oliver Mintzlaff has strongly defended the choice to half methods with Christian Horner, insisting the crew had no alternative however to “flip the web page” – whereas additionally dismissing strategies that Max Verstappen holds undue energy throughout the organisation.
Talking to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Mintzlaff mentioned the Horner choice was not taken flippantly.
“We knew we needed to do one thing,” Mintzlaff defined. “I’m not only a supervisor who hires and fires folks. You may’t hold counting on the previous, and we felt it was time to start out a brand new chapter. It wasn’t simple, however we didn’t take it flippantly both.”
The German govt acknowledged that the ambiance inside Crimson Bull Racing had turn into strained, however argued that refocusing delivered quick advantages on observe.
“It was an open secret that an excessive amount of was happening throughout the crew,” he mentioned. “In current months we noticed that efficiency improved when everybody was one hundred pc centered. Max even got here near successful the title and received extra races than anybody else.”
Mintzlaff declined to be drawn into Dr Helmut Marko’s current criticism of Horner, stressing that these feedback had been private to the Austrian.
“These phrases are Helmut’s duty,” he mentioned. “I can’t say something destructive about Christian. He has meant a lot to Crimson Bull. Issues change in an organization – typically you want that to shake issues up.”
Amid persistent hypothesis over Max Verstappen’s contract and potential efficiency clauses, Mintzlaff was unequivocal.
“I’m not afraid of any clauses,” he mentioned. “A very powerful factor for an athlete is to see the entire crew giving all the pieces. I believe Max is impressed with how the outcomes and ambiance have come collectively.”
Mintzlaff went additional, predicting a lifetime affiliation between Crimson Bull and the four-time world champion Max Verstappen.
“I really feel monumental appreciation and loyalty on each side. I’ve little doubt Max will end his profession at Crimson Bull,” he insisted. “He’s not a diva. If he ever stops driving – and I hope that’s not quickly – I hope he stays with us in one other function.”
He additionally rejected claims that Verstappen successfully runs the crew.
“That’s bullsh*t,” Mintzlaff mentioned bluntly. “He has by no means submitted a single demand to me. Sure, he’s clear about what he desires within the automobile – and he’s allowed to be, as a result of he’s the very best driver on the earth. However there’s just one boss right here, and that’s the can we’re promoting.”
Looking forward to the brand new rules, Mintzlaff admitted uncertainty stays – particularly due to the brand new in-house Crimson Bull-Ford undertaking.
“No one is aware of the place we’ll be – possibly second or third,” he mentioned. “It’s not simply concerning the engine, but in addition the chassis.”
He nonetheless expressed confidence in Crimson Bull’s engine undertaking, paying tribute to Horner’s function in assembling this system earlier than his demise.
“I bear in mind Dietrich Mateschitz telling me we’d construct our personal engine, and I assumed ‘what does that imply?’” Mintzlaff recalled. “Now it’s nearly there. Christian deserves compliments for locating the proper folks. I hope we are able to nonetheless make Dietrich’s massive dream come true.”
Mintzlaff closed on an optimistic notice, highlighting Crimson Bull’s two-team construction and youth pipeline heading into the brand new period.
“We are going to win once more and write new success tales,” he mentioned. “That’s what Crimson Bull is about.”
