Ralf Schumacher has cast serious doubt on whether Christian Horner is still the right person to guide Red Bull through its next chapter, as uncertainty swirls around the team’s future and speculation intensifies over Max Verstappen’s long-term plans.
Once the dominant force in Formula 1, Red Bull has endured a challenging run in 2025, with the team’s grip on the championship slipping and its future stability coming under renewed scrutiny.
The Austrian Grand Prix weekend saw further fuel added to the fire, with George Russell openly confirming that discussions have taken place between Mercedes and Verstappen’s camp – a clear indication that the sport’s hottest property could be considering life away from Milton Keynes.
Schumacher, a six-time Grand Prix winner who has watched the latest Red Bull turmoil unfold from the paddock and the pundit’s chair, did not mince his words when assessing Horner’s position.
“I would say that Red Bull, like many other successful teams, Mercedes was the prime example—, s now going to have a hard time. From my point of view, from the outside, there’s no harmony. I think everybody is aware of it, and you see it every weekend,” Schumacher explained on Sky Germany.
Horner, who has led Red Bull since its entry into F1 in 2005 and overseen multiple title-winning campaigns with both Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen, has recently found himself at the centre of a perfect storm.
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The team’s on-track decline has come on the heels of the high-profile departure of legendary designer Adrian Newey, a blow that has left a clear mark on Red Bull’s technical prowess. The loss of long-serving sporting director Jonathan Wheatley to Sauber further compounded the instability.
Meanwhile, Horner himself was the subject of an off-track controversy last year, after an internal investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour. Though cleared by Red Bull’s own inquiry, the saga left lingering questions about the team’s leadership environment.
Schumacher calls for change at Red Bull
Against this backdrop, Schumacher is adamant that the team’s struggles go beyond just car performance or personnel losses.
“So I think a major reorganisation is coming. Personally, I know Christian Horner wouldn’t like me for it, but I also don’t believe he’s still the right man to lead Red Bull into a new future,” Schumacher said.
“I think he has shown that his decisions probably led to the situation we’re in now. I wouldn’t call it a problem, but he struggles to recruit people for the team and to keep motivation high. That’s something I’m curious about.”
The timing could hardly be worse for Red Bull, as Verstappen – by far the team’s most valuable asset – finds his name linked almost daily with a Mercedes move.
While Toto Wolff insists he is content with his current pairing of Russell and the highly touted Kimi Antonelli, few believe Mercedes would pass up a chance to sign the reigning world champion if he became available.
Verstappen remains under contract with Red Bull until 2028, but the team’s recent form and the exit clause in his deal mean nothing can be taken for granted. The mood within Red Bull is a stark contrast to the seamless dominance the team enjoyed in previous years.
