Gerhard Berger, a long-time ally of Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko and an insider of the Red Bull Racing environment, believes that the Formula 1 team must urgently rebuild its internal cohesion. According to the former Ferrari driver, without unity and stability, even the high-profile departure of Christian Horner will prove ineffective in restoring the team’s dominance.
Another earthquake at Red Bull
The dismissal of Christian Horner, who had served as Red Bull Racing’s Team Principal for two decades and led the team through one of the most successful eras in modern Formula 1, has confirmed the internal tensions that had been simmering beneath the surface at the Milton Keynes-based squad.
The uneasy truce established in 2024 between the Verstappen camp and Red Bull’s ownership—who at the time had aligned themselves with Horner—has now completely collapsed. This breakdown coincided with a noticeable drop in the performance of the RB chassis, and as of now, Red Bull finds itself under new leadership. Former AlphaTauri boss Laurent Mekies has stepped in as the new Team Principal, and it will be up to him to pick up the pieces and steer the team through this turbulent phase.
The task ahead for Laurent Mekies is not an easy one. Beyond the internal frictions—which remain unresolved even after Horner’s departure, especially considering his deep-rooted influence in the organization—there are two additional challenges: first, the looming driver market. Christian Horner’s dismissal does not automatically guarantee Max Verstappen’s commitment to Red Bull. The Dutch driver, a three-time Formula 1 World Champion, has made it clear that his priority is simply to drive the fastest car available, regardless of team loyalty.
Second, Red Bull’s ability to focus on the major regulatory overhaul coming in 2026 is now seriously hindered by the internal power struggle. The upcoming technical revolution in Formula 1 requires total focus and organizational clarity—something Red Bull currently lacks due to its leadership crisis.
Gerhard Berger’s view on the Red Bull crisis
Gerhard Berger, who has close ties with Helmut Marko and a deep understanding of Red Bull’s inner workings, has offered his view on the team’s current turmoil. Speaking to Austria’s Kronen Zeitung, Berger made it clear that Red Bull must first restore order before aiming for more championship titles:
“The goal right now should not be to immediately win the World Championship,” Berger stated. “The most important thing is to stabilize the team and reintegrate Max Verstappen properly. Red Bull is clearly caught in a downward spiral, and the task now is to rebuild effectively.”
The former Scuderia Ferrari driver believes that Max Verstappen will remain with Red Bull Racing, but only under certain conditions.
“Max has always emphasized his loyalty to Red Bull Racing,” Berger explained. “And I believe he will remain with the team even after Horner’s departure. After all, we all know the relationship between the Verstappens and Christian Horner was never particularly strong. His exit might actually turn out to be the decisive factor that convinces Max to stay.”
When asked if Horner was surprised by the team’s decision to part ways with him, Berger was blunt:
“If Horner was truly surprised by what happened, then that’s not a good sign. It was quite clear that this was the direction things were heading in.”
Ultimately, Berger sees the path forward for Red Bull as dependent on two key elements: internal unity and retaining Max Verstappen. Without those, the team’s previous success could quickly unravel, especially in light of the impending challenges posed by Formula 1’s next regulatory cycle.
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