Former Red Bull junior Dan Ticktum has been left with an inner-battle over how much he trusts the Christian Horner Red Bull sack narrative.<\/p>\n
Horner was dismissed as Red Bull Racing boss after 20-plus years with immediate effect. But, Ticktum pondered whether he can believe it was such an instant farewell, saying Formula 1 is a \u201ccesspit of rumours and crap\u201d.<\/p>\n
Christian Horner Red Bull sack under the Ticktum microscope<\/p>\n
In the days following the British Grand Prix, it was announced by Red Bull<\/a> that Horner had been \u2018released\u2019. Laurent Mekies was swiftly announced as his successor, promoted from Racing Bulls team principal to Red Bull Racing CEO.<\/p>\n That decision brought to an end a challenging 18 months for Horner, who was twice cleared by Red Bull following allegations of inappropriate behaviour by a female colleague, allegations he consistently denied.<\/p>\n A deterioration of the relationship between Horner and Jos Verstappen \u2013 father of Red Bull\u2019s four-time World Champion Max Verstappen \u2013 followed.<\/p>\n Key figures such as Rob Marshall, Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley left the team, and Red Bull\u2019s dominant ways faded. Horner\u2019s exit came with Red Bull fourth in the Constructors\u2019 Championship<\/a>, while McLaren built an unassailable lead.<\/p>\n But, Ticktum is questioning whether he can truly believe Horner\u2019s Red Bull sack came so instantaneously.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. I just don\u2019t believe anything I read in the media about it,\u201d he admitted to GPBlog.<\/p>\n \u201cFormula 1 is such a cesspit of rumours and crap, so unless you hear it from both parties \u2013 or all parties face to face \u2013 I don\u2019t read any of it.<\/p>\n \u201cSacked with immediate effect. Do I think they would have not told him at all?\u201d<\/p>\n Ticktum\u2019s experiences as a former Red Bull junior serve as the voice that tells him maybe, that could be true.<\/p>\n According to Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko, the decision was made by Oliver Mintzlaff<\/a>, Red Bull\u2019s CEO of Corporate Projects and New Investments, ensuring greater influence for the Austrian side of Red Bull\u2019s ownership.<\/p>\n As Marko oversees the Red Bull driver programme, Ticktum knows what it is like working with the no-nonsense Austrian, having done so from 2017-19. So, if Horner got the same Marko treatment as Red Bull juniors do, then Ticktum can see some truth to the story.<\/p>\n \u201cI know Helmut Marko has got a reputation for dropping drivers like that [laughs], so it\u2019s not impossible,\u201d Ticktum concluded.<\/p>\n More on Red Bull from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 Who makes most sense as Max Verstappen\u2019s F1 2026 teammate?<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 Ranked: All the F1 driver moves made for the F1 2025 season<\/a><\/p>\n