Martin Brundle admits he’s “fairly unhappy” after Christian Horner was sacked by Pink Bull on Wednesday morning.
The Pink Bull F1 boss was relieved of his duties in a shock announcement, ending his 20-year tenure answerable for the staff, and a yr on from being embroiled in a scandal involving a feminine colleague.
Former F1 racer and Sky Sports activities pundit Brundle gave his quick response to his “pal” Horner being faraway from his publish.
“It’s not utterly out of the blue, given the issues within the staff. I’m fairly unhappy about it. I take into account Christian a pal and he’s completed an unimaginable job for 20 years,” Brundle informed Sky Sports activities Information.
“He’s gained an terrible lot of races and World Championships for driver and the staff. He took it from what was the Stewart staff and Jaguar, into a large campus in Milton Keynes and an terrible lot of success and an enormous trophy cupboard.
“It’s not too troublesome to really feel within the F1 paddock and to watch and listen to that issues weren’t significantly rosy.”
Brundle additionally revealed that Horner has not been given a transparent motive as to why he has been sacked by Pink Bull’s mum or dad firm.
“I consider it’s most likely performance-related as nicely,” Brundle stated, when requested in regards to the reasoning behind the choice. “I believe it maybe makes it extra doubtless that the Verstappens (Max and Jos) will keep there, that grew to become fairly private.
“There are a variety of elements. The automobile is struggling, however they’ve gained races brilliantly this yr.
“I’m resulting from converse to Christan later within the day, I stated ‘can I’ve a chat?’ And he wasn’t ready to try this. No motive was given to him as to why he’s been launched. That’s the one exhausting information on that.
“Nothing’s ceaselessly, issues transfer on.”
Nevertheless, Brundle does consider that the sacking makes Max Verstappen extra prone to keep at Pink Bull for subsequent season. The four-time world champion has been closely linked with a transfer to Mercedes in latest weeks, with Verstappen’s father, Jos, identified to need Horner to depart his job for at the very least a yr.
“It stays to be seen, each level Max has by his personal genius driving is in a Pink Bull automobile,” Brundle stated.
“They’re debuting their very own engine for the primary time subsequent yr, which goes to be the most important change in Components 1 historical past. We all know that Max has an exit clause primarily based on the place he’s on the planet championship on the finish of this month.
“I can solely surmise it means it’s extra doubtless he stays at this second.”
