Christian Horner

[Muzzer79]

Hustle_ said:

Now it's all about the 'where', and crucially the 'when'...

It's also about the 'why'.....

[TheDeuce]

Hustle_ said:

Now it's all about the 'where', and crucially the 'when'...

Assuming he hasn't got an easy way out via his current contract (he may have), the obvious team that would want him can so easily afford whatever the cost to get it done..

So I think Ferrari for 2025, one year to get the groundwork done ahead of the all important 2026 new regs car.

Horner may go on to be the man who had the most expensive hand job in history, assuming Max will now definitely depart too.

[Jasandjules]

Hustle_ said:

Now it's all about the 'where', and crucially the 'when'...

Ferrari. Next season at the latest.

[Muzzer79]

TheDeuce said:

Horner may go on to be the man who had the most expensive hand job in history, assuming Max will now definitely depart too.

I'm not so sure about Max

He has definitely nailed his colours to the Helmut Marko flag - he's been quite open about that.

But he's never spoken so publicly about Newey, to my knowledge.

Again, I think the reason for Newey's exit will speak volumes.

[TheDeuce]

Muzzer79 said:

TheDeuce said:

Horner may go on to be the man who had the most expensive hand job in history, assuming Max will now definitely depart too.

I'm not so sure about Max

He has definitely nailed his colours to the Helmut Marko flag - he's been quite open about that.

But he's never spoken so publicly about Newey, to my knowledge.

Again, I think the reason for Newey's exit will speak volumes.

The impact of losing Newey on the teams future car designs will be huge. He may be just one person, but he's clearly a person that looks at a range of design approaches and has an uncanny knack for making the right choices.

Why should Max desire to remain at a team that just lost its star designer and has a TP he's obviously sided against already? He's a great driver, frankly he deserves better than state RBR have ended up in.

[Muzzer79]

TheDeuce said:

Why should Max desire to remain at a team that just lost its star designer and has a TP he's obviously sided against already? He's a great driver, frankly he deserves better than state RBR have ended up in.

Last time I checked, he was winning every race in this team that's in a 'state'

I think he may see the value in moving, but it'll be a much wider picture than something triggered solely by Newey going (he had to leave at some point)

I'd still be surprised if he moved for 2025. 2026, I could see happening.

[Forester1965]

Muzzer79 said:

It's also about the 'why'.....

Considering the Autosport/Motorsport article, it's pretty obvious why. The source is either going to be Newey or someone close to him/top of RBR.

For example "It is rumoured that Newey is rather reserved towards Stroll Sr. and is therefore not considering the Canadian's financially attractive offer. Also, because he does not like the idea that Stroll could drive up the market value of Aston Martin with Newey as an asset and then perhaps sell the team for a profit.. 'It is rumoured' doing some very heavy lifting there. It's likely either Newey or his missus being the source.

[PhilAsia]

Would I be right in saying that to retain momentum, RBR's various aero departments need to get communicating. Was Newey overseeing the assembly of the whole whilst these various aero depts were micro managing their allotted task?

I (clearly) have no idea, but if the above is true they collectively need to be in deep consultations with each other to maintain the fully assembled aero advantage that Newey maintained.

[Hustle_]

What is tying Hemut Marko to Red Bull? Superficially, not a lot?

I expect Toto would be happy to bung Marko a bit of money every year and send him some free Mercedes merch if it meant getting Max.

I don't know how friendly the fellow Austrians are?

If I was George Russell I'd be having some fitful sleep about now...

[SpudLink]

PhilAsia said:

Would I be right in saying that to retain momentum, RBR's various aero departments need to get communicating. Was Newey overseeing the assembly of the whole whilst these various aero depts were micro managing their allotted task?

I (clearly) have no idea, but if the above is true they collectively need to be in deep consultations with each other to maintain the fully assembled aero advantage that Newey maintained.

It'd be negligent of Horner if he didn't have processes in place to ensure the departments weren't working in silos. Even if Newey was contracted 'till 2030, there was always the possibility he might decide to retire.

[TheDeuce]

Muzzer79 said:

TheDeuce said:

Why should Max desire to remain at a team that just lost its star designer and has a TP he's obviously sided against already? He's a great driver, frankly he deserves better than state RBR have ended up in.

Last time I checked, he was winning every race in this team that's in a 'state'

I think he may see the value in moving, but it'll be a much wider picture than something triggered solely by Newey going (he had to leave at some point)

I'd still be surprised if he moved for 2025. 2026, I could see happening.

I thought it was obvious I was talking about the future.

None of this should effect him this year at all, and most likely the car will remain unbeatable next season, the baked in advantage is already huge. But for the future, losing Newey is obviously a big deal and Max's working relationship with Horner can't possibly be natural and comfortable anymore.

I think Max will go ahead of next season. Unless Horner goes... But with Newey leaving I'm guessing that's not expected to happen.

[suffolk009]

TheDeuce said:

I thought it was obvious I was talking about the future.

None of this should effect him this year at all, and most likely the car will remain unbeatable next season, the baked in advantage is already huge. But for the future, losing Newey is obviously a big deal and Max's working relationship with Horner can't possibly be natural and comfortable anymore.

I think Max will go ahead of next season. Unless Horner goes... But with Newey leaving I'm guessing that's not expected to happen.

"...baked in advantage..." nice subtle reference back to the nonsense of pretending that the budget overspent was on catering.

[TheDeuce]

suffolk009 said:

TheDeuce said:

I thought it was obvious I was talking about the future.

None of this should effect him this year at all, and most likely the car will remain unbeatable next season, the baked in advantage is already huge. But for the future, losing Newey is obviously a big deal and Max's working relationship with Horner can't possibly be natural and comfortable anymore.

I think Max will go ahead of next season. Unless Horner goes... But with Newey leaving I'm guessing that's not expected to happen.

"...baked in advantage..." nice subtle reference back to the nonsense of pretending that the budget overspent was on catering.

I wasn't really going for that point! It's always a good point though

[808 Estate]

I suspect Newey will be gone by the summer break. Gives him, an easy 6 months break where he can doodle red cars while relaxing on his yacht in the Adriaric.

[nordboy]

Looking to get in somewhere quickly?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c84z8qklqvzo

[sweetmate]

I can’t see that happening red bull will not allow that to happen and the money involved in all aspects of anything to do with buying him out or leaving early for other reasons the law firms will be loving it.

[nordboy]

I'm no expert but regularly hear that so called non compete clauses are often not legal and come under a restraint of trade so can't be enforced.

I'm sure there's people on PH who know loads more about that sort of thing than me though.

[Forester1965]

The starting position is they're not legal and the company trying to enforce has to justify them in the circumstances.

[lauda]

I have no experience of non compete and am not a lawyer but I can see them being justified in the context of tapping up and stealing former clients or poaching key staff.

But just being really good at your job and your current employer not wanting anyone else to benefit from that expertise seems less justifiable.

[HarryW]

I wonder if there’s a loop hole in the restrictive practice on re employment, within reason I didn’t think they were enforceable in practice anyway.
Wasn’t AN also moved across into a consulting role as the CTO (as part of the overspend coverup) and perhaps he sits on the other side of the in house designers fire wall, so could walk without ties anyway…..

Re the difference between Horner and newey, is one is an engineer and lets his work do the talking, the other just talks (chats shiiit)…..