Feb.26 (GMM) George Russell has reignited debate over Christian Horner’s departure from Crimson Bull Racing, suggesting the Verstappen camp wielded decisive affect behind the scenes.
In teaser footage from the newest season of Drive to Survive, the Mercedes driver speculates that Max Verstappen and his father Jos performed a strategic position within the energy battle.
“The Verstappens clearly have a variety of energy inside that group,” Russell says within the episode. “They like to govern conditions rather a lot.
“For no matter motive, they don’t like Horner and they’re attempting to get Horner out. I ponder if all of this isn’t some type of recreation meant to strain Crimson Bull in order that he solely stays if Christian leaves.”
Russell’s feedback revive long-running hypothesis that Verstappen’s future and Horner’s place have been intertwined throughout the inner turmoil that in the end led to the group principal’s removing.
Horner, nevertheless, instantly rejects that narrative in the identical episode.
“I really feel an actual sense of loss and harm,” Horner says. “I didn’t actually get the prospect to say a correct goodbye. I by no means imagined to be on this place.
“In fact, your fast response while you’re delivered a sh*t sandwich like that’s to say f*ck them. I had one thing taken away from me that wasn’t my selection that was very treasured to me.”
Addressing the Verstappen angle particularly, Horner distances the quadruple world champion from accountability.
“His father has by no means been my greatest fan. He’s been outspoken about me, however I don’t consider that the Verstappens have been accountable in any approach,” he says.
As a substitute, Horner factors to the shift in company energy following the loss of life of Crimson Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz.
“I believe this was a choice made by Oliver Mintzlaff with Helmut advising from the sideline,” Horner says, referring to Oliver Mintzlaff and the now additionally departed Dr Helmut Marko.
“The founder died, and after Dietrich’s loss of life I believe most likely I used to be deemed to have possibly an excessive amount of management.”
