Horner understands senior departures: "Offer is probably half their budget cap"

Christian Horner thinks it is a logical course of action for some senior employees to leave Red Bull Racing for an adventure with another team. Indeed, the Austrian racing team had to let some people go because of the budget ceiling. Because of the departed personnel, Red Bull must again look for some replacements. Horner does argue that it is important not to lower standards, despite Formula One teams having to deal with budget limits.

Red Bull had to let Rob Marshall leave for McLaren this season. Due to the introduction of the budget cap, the Austrian racetrack has already had to let several people go, because otherwise it did not work out in terms of budget. Horner, therefore, thinks it is not so strange that employees leave if there is a better offer elsewhere. "Of course, that happens. You can't keep everyone. I think every role has to be justified within the budget ceiling," the team boss is quoted by Motorsport.com.

Marshall thus received this better offer from McLaren. Horner, therefore, understands that Marshall chose to leave, given the circumstances at both racing teams. "Rob was mainly focused on other projects in recent years," the team boss is referring to the Red Bull Powertrains project. McLaren's offer is probably half their budget ceiling! So you can't blame him for wanting to go there."

Horner: "You shouldn't lower your standards"

Despite the budget ceiling, Horner does not want to hire several cheaper people. The standard must remain high within Red Bull. "You have to make sure that you don't lower your standards. The problem is that seniors have made an important contribution and you don't want them to be removed from their roles because of the budget ceiling, purely because you have ten rookies who can take the role of that experienced force. That is the constant discussion that has caused people to lose their jobs because of the budget ceiling," Brit said.