Red Bull CEO addresses Horner exit, Verstappen on plank wear, Ferrari's 2026 warning
Red Bull's CEO calls Christian Horner's exit a necessary move, not a risk. Max Verstappen warns many cars could fail stricter skid plank checks, while Ferrari's Fred Vasseur cautions that early 2026 speed won't guarantee success due to budget-capped development. Verstappen's camp also hears promising news about Red Bull's 2026 Ford engine.
Red Bull's parent company CEO has broken his silence on Christian Horner's departure, while Max Verstappen suggests widespread skid plank violations could be a hidden issue in Formula 1. Meanwhile, Ferrari's team principal offers a cautious outlook for the upcoming 2026 regulation reset.
Why it matters:
These updates collectively paint a picture of a sport in transition. Horner's exit marked a seismic shift in Red Bull's leadership, technical compliance remains a tightrope walk for all teams, and the approaching 2026 rules are already shaping strategic thinking. How top teams navigate these parallel challenges will define the competitive order in the coming years.
The details:
- Horner Exit Justified: Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO of Red Bull GmbH, stated the decision to part ways with Team Principal Christian Horner was not a "risk" but a necessary organizational move. He acknowledged Horner's "great track record" but emphasized the need for professionalism, suggesting internal consensus behind the change.
- Verstappen's Plank Warning: Max Verstappen claimed that if the FIA checked every car's skid plank wear after every race, "half of them" would likely be under the legal limit. His comments highlight the extreme margins teams operate within, following several 2025 disqualifications for excessive wear.
- Ferrari's 2026 Reality Check: Fred Vasseur warned that early speed in the 2026 season may not guarantee title contention. He anticipates a fierce development race constrained by the budget cap, meaning teams must make pivotal design choices early with limited scope for major in-season upgrades.
- Red Bull-Ford PU Buzz: Raymond Vermeulen, Max Verstappen's manager, reported positive internal feedback about Red Bull Powertrains' 2026 engine developed with Ford. However, he tempered expectations by noting its ultimate competitiveness remains relative to the efforts of rival manufacturers like Mercedes, Ferrari, Audi, and Honda.
The big picture:
The news roundup underscores Formula 1's constant state of flux between sporting, technical, and political fronts. Leadership changes at a dominant team create uncertainty, the perennial technical arms race continues at the rulebook's edge, and a major regulatory overhaul looms, forcing teams to balance present performance against future planning. Success hinges on managing all these variables simultaneously.