'Horner makes the decisions at Red Bull: big difference with Marko'

F1 News

Is Christian Horner or Helmut Marko the boss at Red Bull?
31 July at 10:00
Last update 31 July at 10:14
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  • Jeroen Immink

It was announced this week that Red Bull will not opt to evict Sergio Perez from his seat for the time being. The Mexican, who has been underperforming relative to his teammate Max Verstappen, will still get the chance to secure his career at Red Bull. Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 podcast, analyst Craig Slater questions Red Bull's policy, asking who is pulling the strings at the Austrian racing stable now?

Who makes the decisions at Red Bull now?

In recent years, Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko has given several drivers a seat and then thrown them out again. Daniil Kvyat, Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon and also Nyck de Vries were all given a chance within the Red Bull family, but none of them managed to get by. Now even with Perez's struggles, it has become clear that it takes a lot to hold your own alongside three-time world champion Verstappen.

Gasly, Albon and de Vries were not given long by Marko to show off. Because of Perez's ability to hold onto his seat, Slater questions whether the Austrian still holds all the strings at Red Bull. "This would have been a decision by Helmut Marko, it was a decision by Christian Horner, and that could be significant," Slater revealed. "I think Marko is more of the tinkerman. He likes to move people around quite ruthlessly. I think Horner takes a view there's upheaval in all of that, so they really gain so much?", Slater added. 

The lack of alternatives could also play a role, according to Slater. "Ricciardo has not really been banging on the door hard. They don't for whatever reason want to promote Tsunoda, and Lawson is a bit of an unknown quantity. So it's not straightforward what to do," he said. 

Finally, Slater concludes that it will be a leaden task to survive alongside Verstappen. "He has got about 35 per cent of the points that Max has. It's right to say if that persists with the scoring they've had, they won't win the Constructors' Championship. Senior figures in Red Bull have been saying to Horner: 'look at this, can't ignore the facts, it's your decision ultimately...' and so far he is keeping Checo in situ," he said. 

This article was written in collaboration with Sophia Crothall.