The latest controversy to take over F1 has been the internal investigation of Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner. Much has been said by the publications all over the world about it. There have been quite a few outlandish claims that have been made as well.In all of this, there’s one thing that stands out and is probably not getting the attention it deserves. What if someone like Christian Horner succumbs and has to resign from the top spot at Red Bull? What if the brand is forced to find a replacement for the man who has built the team from scratch? This is a daunting challenge and needs to be addressed immediately.
There is a pool of extraordinary talents in the F1 ecosystem and beyond who have the ability to accomplish the task. There are numerous individuals who would be eager to assume control of a smoothly functioning organization that has recently completed a highly successful season in F1. Nevertheless, if Red Bull decides to terminate its association with Christian Horner, who would be on the list of potential candidates? Let’s examine the contenders who could potentially replace Christian Horner at Red Bull.
#1 Jonathan Wheatley.
If the team is looking at a successor that is homegrown and has done a brilliant job within the squad, then that might bring forth a name like Jonathan Wheatley. He has been an influential figure on the pit wall for Red Bull for some time.In essence, he is in a somewhat similar situation as James Vowles found himself in at Mercedes, where the only logical progression left for him was to lead the team. If Christian Horner gets the boot, then Wheatley might be the first man who could be considered if the emphasis is to promote from within.
#2 Davide BrivioA
In recent years, F1 did not capitalize on the potential of Davide Brivio, a highly skilled individual. Known for his successful contributions to both Honda and Suzuki in MotoGP, Brivio joined Alpine but unfortunately faced a significant lack of opportunities at Enstone. Despite his track record of securing championship victories for various teams in MotoGP, Brivio was never afforded a genuine opportunity to prove himself in the world of F1.
“He possesses an outstanding history of achievements in another field and is renowned for effectively leading his team with limited resources, evident from his victory with Suzuki in MotoGP. Red Bull could potentially be considering him as a potential replacement for Christian Horner.”
#3 Otmar SzafneurOtmar Szafneur’s.
name does not get spoken of in high regard ever since his last stint in F1 with Alpine.
The man was hired to bring the French squad back to the top in 2005-06 but the manner in which the entire undertaking was handled, left a bad taste in the mouth of everyone.Otmar was fired after what appeared to be a change of heart from the Alpine management and since then, he’s been in contact with multiple teams as well. Otmar’s record has been brilliant in the past as well. He was the man at the forefront of one of the most efficient operations in F1 with Force India when the team finished P4 in the championship.
#4 Andreas Seidl.
It’s true that Andreas Seidl is involved in building the Audi project as a CEO but if the call came from a team like Red Bull, that too, for replacing Christian Horner, it would be hard to assume that Seidl would not consider it. The track that Seidl has throughout his career has been remarkable. Success with Audi and Porsche in Endurance racing before moving to F1 and spearheading McLaren’s resurgence deserves a lot of credit.
What it also does is that it gives Seidl’s work a lot of credibility and an Austrian outfit might want that in its leader.
#5 James BarclayA name that not many would be aware of in F1 is James Barclay, A gentleman who is establishing a reputation in the world of Formula E as the chief of Jaguar. In a field as packed and fiercely competitive as Formula E, it is difficult for anyone to truly shine, but Barclay has managed to achieve just that. “He possesses the skill of triumphing and his achievements at Jaguar garnered attention in the previous year. At present in Formula E, Barclay’s team is notably prominent, with Nick Cassidy currently leading the championship. If Red Bull seeks a distinctive talent, he could be a potential candidate for Christian Horner’s successor.”