Max Verstappen victorious again but Red Bull power struggle continues and

Max Verstappen cruised to the latest in a long line of composed and imperious victories at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Saturday. Behind the scenes at Red Bull, though, things are anything but serene.

Verstappen’s run of wins looks to have no obvious end – this was the ninth in a row, dating back to last year’s Japanese Grand Prix, and his 29th out of the past 34 races since mid-2022.

But it took place against the backdrop of the continuing controversy following allegations of inappropriate behaviour made against team principal Christian Horner by a female employee, which the 50-year-old denies.

The latest development is evidence of a power struggle at Red Bull – some have said it’s between Horner and their motorsport adviser Helmut Marko; and others say it’s between the Thai majority shareholders and Austrian minority shareholders – into which Verstappen and his father Jos have now been drawn.

For 24 hours this weekend, Marko was in danger of being suspended by Red Bull. In the end, it seems to have taken an intervention from Verstappen to keep him in his position.

This revelation about Marko came a day after the female employee who reported Horner’s behaviour to Red Bull’s human resources department was herself suspended.

Red Bull has always been a secretive organisation that tightly controlled the flow of information to the outside world. That applies to the parent company Red Bull GmbH in Fuchsl Am See in Austria as much as it does to the Red Bull Racing F1 team.

Giving an insight into what happens inside the two companies is anathema.

As this off-track drama played out this weekend, some F1 insiders claimed that Horner, having won the backing of the Thai owner Chalerm Yoovidhya, was trying to dispense with all his rivals, to secure not only his own survival within Red Bull, but his position as the unchallenged authority in the team, and perhaps beyond.

Horner said: “The rumours about suspension were news to the team as to anybody else. We were quite surprised to hear that.

“Helmut is a contractor to Red Bull GmbH so it was an issue between them and we weren’t part of that discussion. I have known Helmut since 1996 and he has played an important role over the years. Coming up to 81 years of age, he is still motivated about F1, which is a positive thing.”

And he insisted: “My relationship with Helmut is no issue. He is always outspoken but that’s Helmut. I am not quite sure where the rumours permeated from. It is not something I have been involved in.”

Whoever was challenging Marko’s position, it is a high-risk game, for Verstappen is close to the former F1 driver.

After qualifying, Verstappen was asked what he thought about the threats to Marko.

A week before, he had been asked whether Horner had his full support as Red Bull team principal. Verstappen’s carefully worded answer used equivocal language.

In contrast, he left no one in any doubt about his feelings regarding Marko.

“It’s very important that he stays within the team,” Verstappen said. “If such an important pillar falls away, that’s not good for my situation as well. So, for me, Helmut has to stay, for sure.”

In other words, get rid of Marko, and Verstappen could walk, too, notwithstanding his contract, which lasts until 2028.

Mercedes, who have a vacant seat next year following Lewis Hamilton’s decision to move to Ferrari in 2025, are waiting with open arms.

READ MORE:Max Verstappen threatens to QUIT Red Bull’s F1 team if his

As Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff put it: “This is a decision Max needs to take and there is no team up and down the grid who wouldn’t do handstands to have him in the car.”

Again, Horner played down any sense of conflict.

“It is absolutely fine with Max,” he said. “He’s working well within the team. There is no tension, no stress. You can see how relaxed he is around the garage with everybody in the team. That’s translating to his performance on track as well. So we don’t see any issues with Max.”

After the race, Verstappen was asked again about Marko and his own position within Red Bull. He said: “I always said that what is most important is that we work together as a team and that everyone keeps the peace. And that’s what we, I think, all agree on within the team. So hopefully from now on, that is also fully the case.

“Everyone is trying to focus in the same direction. And the positive out of all this is that it didn’t hurt our performances.”