Bahrain will have to go ahead with Horner at the pit wall tomorrow and Sunday. It’s too late to do anything about this race. Excruciating doesn’t begin to describe. If Verstappen wins, all eyes will be on the RB team’s and Horner’s interactions. Any hint the team isn’t united behind him and ooof, he’s done. If ever Geri is at a race and RB win, she makes sure she’s there at the podium, wearing white. Wonder if we’ll see her on Sunday. If verstappen doesn’t get a podium place this weekend….well 😱. I think CH’s fate will be unquestionably sealed. Frankly, given how pre-season testing has gone, if he doesn’t get pole or win the race you might say the same thing.
As for his longer term tenure: I just don’t see how he can stay on. In that sport, the thought process will be all about how vindictive and conniving the PA was, out to get him, nbd, nothing that bad, this stuff happens all the time and frankly Horner isn’t the worst thing about the Red Bull team. But F1 has become bigger than that now, with the massive explosion in public interest, ticket prices, profile, racing schedule etc. This is the first real scandal since Abu Dhabi 2021, and F1 wasn’t anywhere near as big then. They can’t be seen to put up with this sort of sleaze, can they? I think that’s why the FIA got involved.
It honestly couldn’t happen to a nicer more odious guy. In a world of Landos and Leclercs, Horner isn’t the kind of villain the sport want. Toto is about as villainous as they’d go.