Tension in Milton Keynes. The decision that F1 was waiting for: what will happen at Red Bull with Verstappen and Horner’s enemy advisor

“It’s been a long time… I’m very grateful for Max’s loyalty, I’ve been very impressed. But At the moment we are not going to go to Mercedes together”. The phrase pronounced by Helmut Marko, one of Red Bull’s main advisors, to the newspaper The Telegraphdefused a bomb that seemed about to explode in Formula 1, and brought peace of mind to the fans of the Milton Keynes team.

The thing is that in recent days the rumor of the Verstappens’ (father Jos and son Max) discomfort over the continuity of Christian Horner as team leader had gained strength, after accusations of inappropriate behavior with an employee of the team (of the which finally came out successful). “Apparently he is so upset with Christian Horner’s continuity that he would be willing to leave. And they have seen his father, Jos, talking to Toto Wolff”, were the words that some European media replied, and that they glimpsed a future with Mad Max outside of Red Bull, where he does not stop winning, and within Mercedes.

Therefore, Helmut Marko’s words calmed the waters. The experienced advisor, 80 years old, added in this regard: “Things have begun to become a lot clearer in the team,” and hinted that the matter with Horner was settled: “We have been together for 19 years now, why not continue? Yes indeed, there are still some issues to resolve”.

Jos and Max Verstappen, pending Red Bull’s internal problemsArchive

After Max Verstappen’s triumph in Bahrain, his father, the influential former driver Jos Verstappen, had spoken out in the English newspaper Daily Mail with strong statements against Horner as a result of that case. “There is tension here as long as he remains in his position,” said dad Verstappen, and went further: “The team is in danger of disintegrating. It can’t go on like this. It will explode. “He plays the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”

A meeting and the intervention of “Mrs Horner”

A meeting took place between Horner and Verstappen’s manager to lower tensions ahead of this weekend’s Saudi Arabia Grand Prix and it seemed that this agreement was going to put an end to the whole matter. However, according to reports published by The Telegraph, Red Bull suspended the employee after Geri Halliwell (former member of the Spice Girls) demanded that her husband cut all ties with the complainant. This comes after Halliwell made a public show of support for Horner at last Saturday’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

Christian Horner, Red Bull technical chief, with his wife, Geri Halliwell Qian Jun/MB Media – Getty Images Europe

The Sun claims that a “distraught” Halliwell made it clear that she firmly wanted Horner’s accuser “out of the picture,” and the plaintiff learned Thursday that she has been suspended with full pay by Red Bull. In addition, they explain that Halliwell felt “relieved and elated” after Horner was cleared by Red Bull’s internal investigation, before the story related to her leaked WhatsApp messages left her “stunned.”

Some British media report that the employee who accused Horner showed up for work last Monday and upon her arrival was notified that she was suspended as a direct result of the Red Bull investigation.

THE NATION

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Christian HornerRed Bull RacingMax Verstappen

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