Christian Horner may have led Red Bull to yet another championship in 2024, but make no mistake—this was the most turbulent season of his career. From losing key personnel to a team investigation and a car that nearly crumbled under pressure, Horner’s leadership was put to the ultimate test.
Now, former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has come out in defense of Horner, admitting that many have underestimated just how brutal the past year has been for the Red Bull boss.
“I think he will remember the ’24 year as [the] pretty sttiest year of his life,”** Steiner told GPBlog, acknowledging the relentless challenges Horner faced. “So we have to give him credit. He always stood up for it.”
From Powerhouse to Chaos: Red Bull’s Internal Meltdown
Red Bull entered 2024 as the undisputed force in F1, but the cracks began to show early—and by the time the season ended, the team was a shadow of its former self.
🔻 Adrian Newey walked away to join Aston Martin, taking his revolutionary design expertise with him.
🔻 Jonathan Wheatley, the long-time Sporting Director, jumped ship to lead Sauber/Audi.
🔻 Strategy mastermind Will Courtenay is heading to McLaren.
🔻 An internal investigation into Horner’s conduct rocked the team before the season even started.
Even with Max Verstappen dragging the RB20 to another title, Red Bull fell apart in the Constructors’ Championship—a failure Steiner attributes to a fundamental flaw in their driver lineup.
“They had that one driver in the team,” Steiner said bluntly. “They couldn’t defend the Constructors’ Championship because they had only one car.”
The blame landed squarely on Sergio Perez, who cracked under pressure and failed to support Verstappen against an emerging McLaren threat.
“We’re not saying Checo isn’t a good driver, but he wasn’t last year. We have to say that one,” Steiner admitted. “He underperformed.”
Can Red Bull Rebuild? Horner Faces an Uphill Battle
While Red Bull remains a powerhouse, the loss of so much top-tier talent raises a serious question—can Horner keep this team together?
Steiner believes hiring fresh talent could breathe new life into the organization, but warns that replacing Adrian Newey is an impossible task.
“Obviously, they lost some people. Replacing an Adrian? It will be difficult.”
With Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren all closing in fast, Horner is under more pressure than ever to ensure Red Bull doesn’t go from dominance to disaster.
The 2025 season will be his defining test—can he hold it all together, or is Red Bull’s golden era starting to crumble?