Red Bull is reportedly grappling with a delicate situation, suspecting the presence of a Thai operative within their organization, allegedly dispatched by team owner Chalerm Yoovidhya to keep tabs on Christian Horner.
With Yoovidhya and his family holding a controlling 51% stake in the team, there are concerns that their influence could escalate, especially as they seek an insider’s perspective.
However, amidst the turmoil stemming from Horner’s recent scandal, for which he has been cleared of any wrongdoing, Red Bull finds itself in a state of disarray.
As per reports, there are indications that a member of the Yoovidhya family has been assigned to oversee the team’s day-to-day operations, prompting apprehension within Red Bull about the possibility of drastic directives from Yoovidhya.
Since assuming control of the team following the passing of Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022, Yoovidhya has adopted a more hands-on approach.
Mateschitz, the Austrian tycoon credited with introducing Red Bull to the European market, amassed his fortune through the adaptation of the popular drink Krating Daeng, originally crafted by the Yoovidhya family.
The Yoovidhyas rank as the second wealthiest family in Thailand, boasting an estimated net worth of £26 billion. They have maintained a low-profile stance, reminiscent of the patriarch’s preference, who was known for his devout Buddhist beliefs and rare interactions with the media or public appearances.
While the Yoovidhyas typically refrain from direct involvement, the severity of the situation at Red Bull seems to have prompted an unprecedented move, as hinted by reports of sending a surveillance operative.
In the wake of the allegations against Horner, Jos Verstappen highlighted to the Belgian press the existence of a power struggle within Red Bull, stating, “It’s definitely hard for the outside world to follow.”
“I think it is a necessity for them to get calm within the team, but given the circumstances, I think it will continue for a while. I’m curious, but it doesn’t help the whole process.
“There is definitely a certain power struggle going on. We’ll see, I can’t say too much about it. I hope peace returns soon and they start concentrating on racing because that’s what it’s all about. But this is not good.
“I don’t know what to do. The most important thing for us is that Max keeps winning and he is doing that.
“The car is very good and between the engineers and Max, there is nothing going on, so that is also good. Max knows how to handle that part too, but he gets a lot of questions about what’s happening and he doesn’t like that. But that’s also part of it, the other side of Formula One.”
