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Max Verstappen has already made his feelings wide connected Christian Horner aft the Red Bull squad brag was sacked.
On Wednesday morning, the Formula 1 satellite was shaken to its halfway aft daze reports emerged claiming Horner has been sacked by Red Bull aft implicit 20 years of service.
It was past confirmed successful a connection that the 51-year-old has been replaced astatine Red Bull by Laurent Mekies, who was the squad main astatine sister squad Visa Cash App Racing Bulls.
Red Bull managing manager Oliver Mintzlaff said: "We would similar to convey Christian Horner for his exceptional enactment implicit the past 20 years.
"With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking, helium has been instrumental successful establishing Red Bull Racing arsenic 1 of the astir palmy and charismatic teams successful Formula 1. Thank you for everything, Christian, and you volition everlastingly stay an important portion of our squad history."
Horner's presumption has been questioned successful the past but prima operator Verstappen has ever stood by the Englishman.
Speaking astir Horner backmost successful March 2024, Verstappen said, via The Independent: "When I look astatine however Christian operates wrong the squad helium has been an unthinkable brag truthful from the show benignant of things you can’t question that.
"I talk to Christian a batch and helium is afloat committed to the team. He is present for the performance, and of people helium is simply a small spot distracted, but we conscionable absorption connected show and that is however we each enactment together."
While Verstappen is yet to remark connected Horner's sacking, the Dutchman's manager, Raymond Vermeulen, did springiness a statement.
As reported by De Telegraaf, Vermeulen said: "We were informed successful beforehand astir this determination by RedBull management. It’s up to RedBull to grow connected wherefore they did this. We proceed to absorption connected the sporting broadside and are looking for much show truthful we tin instrumentality to the top. In that sense, thing changes."
Max Verstappen and Christian Horner. Image: Getty
According to a study by ESPN, the ambiance wrong the Red Bull squad was becoming tense.
The uncertainty implicit Verstappen's aboriginal and the team's mediocre commencement to the 2025 run lone added substance to the already increasing fire.
It has been suggested that a bid of meetings took spot implicit the past 2 weekends.
The study stated that astatine slightest 1 of those meetings progressive Verstappen and manager Mintzlaff, with the second pushing for a alteration of leadership.
Horner's last contention for Red Bull came past play astatine Silverstone, wherever Verstappen finished 5th and Yuki Tsunoda came location last.
During his clip successful charge, Horner led the squad to six constructors' championships and 8 drivers' satellite titles.
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