From: no_email@invalid.invalid   
      
   ~misfit~  wrote:   
   > On 10/07/2025 5:37 am, dmunz wrote:   
   >> Ok, but why now? Why not wait until the break?   
   >>   
   >> I don’t buy all the VES noise.   
   >>   
   >> I wonder if it has more to do with the Ferrari moves rumor.   
   >   
   > There's talk that after the allegations Horner faced the Verstappen camp   
   > wanted him gone. Now that   
   > RBR are desperate to keep Verstappen and his exit clause has been   
   > triggered (by lack of points)   
   > they hope that getting rid of Horner will encourage Max to stay.    
   > Buggered if I know...   
      
   Of course the situation at RBR is complex and many of the reports about it   
   are mere supposition but it is known that, when Dietrich Mateschitz and   
   Chaleo Yoovidhya founded Red Bull they each took a 49% interest in the   
   business with the remaining 2% going to Chaleo’s son, Chalerm.   
   When Dietrich Mateschitz died his son, Mark, inherited his father’s   
   interest in the business and he seems to have formed the opinion that   
   Christian Horner had too much control over the racing team. He may have   
   suspected that Horner planned a coup, in which RBR would become a separate   
   entity, with himself as owner.   
   This supposition is not too far fetched in view of the fact that neither   
   Horner, nor Adrian Newey, have ever been offered shares in the RBR   
   business.   
   Any attempt by the Austrian faction to get rid of Horner was frustrated by   
   the fact that he always had the support of the Thais.   
   Recently, however, things have not been going well for Horner: vital team   
   members: Adrian Newey, Rob Marshall and Jonathan Wheatley have all left the   
   team; Horner took the incomprehensible decision to retain Sergio Pérez (and   
   extend his contract) and he faced an internal investigation (which cleared   
   him) of inappropriate behaviour towards his personal assistant, Fiona   
   Hewitson (it probably did not help that arch stirrer, Jos Verstappen,   
   allegedly, has tender feelings for Hewitson).   
   It surely cannot be a coincidence that the recent transfer of a 2% stake in   
   Red Bull GmbH from Chalerm Yoovidhya to Fides Trustees SA, a trust company   
   registered in Geneva was followed almost immediately by the sacking of   
   Horner.   
   As far as Max Verstappen’s future is concerned, if I were he, I would   
   abandon RBR just as soon as contractual arrangements allow. The RBR team   
   seems to be in meltdown and I have very little faith in its ability to   
   produce a competitive engine next year.   
      
   --   
   Sir Tim   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)