2025 Formula 1 Season Paddock

Horner might be a dick but he has every right to have an ego. His success eclipses that of any other principle in F1. He will get the last laugh. RB will struggle and continue decline as they just removed the framework of the program. They want to change the culture but the way Horner ran it is the foundation of the success.
Most would fold under the years of Mercedes dominance but he led them back. No one will ever share the passion he had for that team because it was his baby. To anyone else it’s just a job.

 

Cadillac F1 should hire him...

 

God please no

 

The only way I see Horner returning to that role is if he has a large ownership stake. Toto style.

 

Between him and his Spice Girl I’m sure they have enough money

 

He for sure has enough money to do whatever he chooses. For him I doubt it is about the money. It's ego and he will be driven to stick it to RB as he feels he should have been given or had the opportunity for an ownership stake. For Horner it will be about him choosing how it ends. And I think he should have been given the opportunity to buy into RB. He built the fucking thing. Or perhaps he chooses to just eff off and do whatever he chooses. Who knows. Maybe RB allows him an avenue to be involved in the background. It is all speculation. I just think it is a bad move for RB. After the domination they had under Horner in recent years. This year having things unravel a little, next years unknowns. The last thing you want is new leadership. And who wants to be the guy to follow Horner facing all those challenges. And if it comes down as a move to just keep Max. That is a move for short term gain at best. And even then it is a huge if.
Horner has had a massive target on his back for a long time. Given he has made himself an easy target but RB folding to the pressure seems short sighted and contrary to the culture they forged. It will be funny to see RB becoming Williams over the next decade. Horner will take a big hit to his ego but after that he is in a better situation. He is free of all the challenges RB was facing and would be welcomed by almost any team in F1. And would probably be given an ownership stake almost anywhere he wants to go. Especially if he chooses a newish team. He will have to solve the funding but I suspect that is not a huge challenge for him.

 

Given the team's downward spiral with an undrivable car held together by the most talented driver on the grid, changes at the top shouldn't be a surprise. Unfortunately, the underlying top tier talent to fix those issues has already moved to greener pastures. RB must be hoping the next generation of engineering talent has learned enough from their mentors.

The only thing that likely saved Toto from a similar fate during the low rake and then zero sidepod fiasco at Merc was his equity position in the team. It did however cost them their #1 driver. RB likely saw that scenario and made their choice.

I wouldn't underestimate Mekies. He, Komatsu and Vowles have been impressive as new Team Principles.

The big question next year remains the same, Merc, Ferrari, Honda, Audi or Ford?

Maybe he forges a new ownership group for Aston once Lance finds another hobby.

 

With the Red Bull "dominance" the last few years but a decline as of late, will we see the Red Bill down to 1 team in the future? Will they sell off the racing bulls? Is that a Horner opportunity to buy and build with a new manuf?

 

Bingo - this x1000

It's been well known that's what he was trying to get for years at RB and it's very obvious if you look at the power plays he's made (killing the porsche deal, getting the thai backing during the sex creep scandal, RBPT move from Honda to Ford, the 2nd seat, the list goes on and on...)

That being said that's why I think the Caddy thing wouldn't work out even if they offered him both CEO and TP, that's a BIG "if" and I don't think it's going to happen. Partially because I don't think Towriss just walks away from this and even more so because of team ownership but that's an entirely different ball of wax

IMO Mekies was a very good engineer and has been a solid TP, however making the jump to the CEO position (at a place like RB no less) is a bit of a different ballgame. He better sharpen his knives!

 

But it's not "undrivable" it's just tailored towards Max, and thus any 2nd driver that isn't Max, has a huge learning curve.

 

I like Max, I like to see him do well. BUT... He has peaked, I am doubtful he will ever be as dominant as he was in that historic run. All the things aligned up for that to happen. He might never find the success he once had again. He cannot seem to adapt to the car he is in now or they cannot adapt it to him. I cannot imagine he will be as successful at another team as his feel and style is so unique. I mean look at the struggle LH is having in the red equipment. No doubt Max will show flashes of his former greatness but the dominance he had might never happen again. In my opinion the best course of action would be to move away from making everything so custom tailored to Max. That is the rabbit hole that has them in the situation they are in now. It is not a sustainable future for anyone. Then you throw in the complete dumpster fire that is Max's father and who wants to invite that into your program. Sure, Max is great. But at some point he will walk away.
If I were Horner. I would be calling my boy Daniel Ricciardo. Telling him to go see a shrink and to get his head right and then find a situation where you can build a car that he can perform in and start over with a beloved driver who deserves a better ending. Hell, make a call to Vettel and make it a show! Call Gene Haas, tell him you are bringing drivers, all the people RB just let go, funding and you want a stake and flip the whole fucking thing.

 

If were being honest, in F1 much (I'd say over 50%) of a Teams success comes down to the car. Has Max fallen off? No. Has LH, really regressed this much? No? Would Alonso challenge for more podiums if he was in a Merc? Most likely. The car can make a break a driver, no matter how skilled. I loved rooting for Michael Schumacher, and do believe he is one of the most talented/skillful divers ever. But that Ferrari he was able to drive attributed to much of his success, just like the Merc LH had or the RB's Vettel, and Max had. If you put Max, Alonso, or LH in one of the McLaren's right now, I think you'd see a drastic change in each drivers results. Why because a new car has show to be dominant. And this isn't said to slight either current McLaren driver.

 

It is only drive-able for Max at high speed dry circuits, even then it is a handfull and he is the most talented driver on the circuit.

 

Eh, difference in perspective, all around. But I respect your take.

 

Seems to be pretty well reported that Max and Toto are meeting in Sardinia today

3 things to watch for moving forward that I think will give us a better sense of what really happened with Horner and RB:

Where Max is driving next season
The 2% of RB shares that belonged to thai jr. that got moved into a trust at the end of May, are those voting shares
How much does the Ford/RBPT go kaplooey

 

I thought Max could only move if he drops to 4th?

 

That's the general consensus, although the contract is not public so we're all going by speculation. 4th or worse seems to be what's most agreed upon, although some are saying 5th or worse and there's also been chatter about a clause that pertains to the constructors and I've also heard that there are different time pegs tied to it (i.e. summer break). There are apparently other clauses in there as well including one that was tied to Marko - if RB fired him Max could exercise the opt out at any time.

End of the day I think Max will find a way to do what he wants to do and if anyone doesn't agree with that here comes Jos.