Rumour mill in overdrive as Red Bull supremo faces uncertain future amid milestone celebration
With Red Bull set to celebrate its 400th grand prix start at this weekend's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, fresh rumours surrounding team principal Christian Horner's future at the team have emerged.
With Horner having been at the helm since the team's arrival on the grid in 2005, parent company Red Bull GmbH plans to honour him and Red Bull Racing.
Horner is the longest-serving current team principal in Formula 1 and over two decades has led Red Bull to eight drivers' championships, six constructors' championships, 285 podiums and 123 grand prix wins.
READ MORE: Healy lifts lid on 'terrifying' escape from India border
READ MORE: Cameron Smith picks bolter among six Maroons changes
READ MORE: Seven innings that defined Kohli's love-hate Aussie relationship
Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner. Dan Istitene via Getty Images
However, rumours are circulating of a potential shake-up within the team.
Stuck in a performance dip, Red Bull is no longer the unbeatable force that it was in recent years.
While still spearheaded by four-time reigning champion Max Verstappen, the team was pipped by McLaren for the 2024 constructors' championship.
Renewed speculation suggesting that Horner has lost the support of shareholders has been dismissed, with claims that the stories are intended to overshadow the team's celebrations.
Last week, a report in Italian magazine Autosprint suggested that Horner may lose the support of the majority Thai shareholding of Red Bull, represented by Red Bull GmbH co-owner Chalerm Yoovidhya, if the upgrades planned for Imola fail to make a splash.
A different report from the Austrian media company Oe24 claimed that Horner retains the full support of the Thai shareholders but could lose the support of the Austrian minority shareholders, headed up by now-deceased co-owner Dietrich Mateschitz's son Mark.
Christian Horner and the Red Bull Racing team celebrate in the pitlane after the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Red Bull Content Pool
When Mateschitz died, his 49 per cent share of Red Bull GmbH was inherited by Mark.
That report also stated that Red Bull would not be rolling out a major upgrade package at Imola, and would instead introduce new parts for steady progress.
While the performance of these tweaks will be closely watched, their success will not impact Horner's position.
Horner is contracted until the 2030 F1 season. Earlier this year, he said his commitment to seeing out the decade with the team is "absolute".
This is not the first time rumours have emerged that Horner has lost the support of the shareholders.
Last year, following an internal investigation into dismissed misconduct allegations levelled at him, it appeared Horner was on the chopping block.
However, despite facing external scrutiny and calls for him to step down, Horner remained in charge.
Horner is also the CEO of Red Bull Advanced Technologies and oversees Red Bull Powertrains, which, in partnership with Ford, is driving the team's project of developing their own powertrains for the new 2026 regulations.
