Christian Horner has faced plenty of criticism this season (Image: Getty)
has warned that his position as team principal could become ‘vulnerable’ if the squad continue to struggle. The Brit has also been criticised by , who continued his public tirade after the difficult result in Singapore.
are readying an upgrade package for the upcoming United States Grand Prix with significant pressure hanging over them. After dominating the first half of the season, they are now winless in eight races and trail Constructors’ Championship leaders by 41 points.
This slump has also had a significant impact on the Drivers’ Championship, where ’s lead – previously thought to be unassailable – is being dismantled by a charging , who now has the best machinery underneath him and a team-mate willing to help him to a maiden World Championship.
These struggles, combined with unrest behind the scenes and the departures of key figures such as Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley and Will Courtenay have raised questions about Horner’s future as the team’s leader.
Discussing Horner’s position on the Red Flags podcast, former Haas boss Steiner said: “Absolutely. When you’re winning, whatever you do is okay. When you stop winning, you get vulnerable. Your bullet-proof jacket gets thinner and thinner. If more bullets are shot, at some stage, defending yourself is difficult.”
Steiner isn’t the only person to question Horner’s position. With his son’s fourth Drivers’ Championship title hanging finely in the balance, Jos Verstappen took the opportunity to voice his displeasure over the 50-year-old’s leadership.
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Guenther Steiner believes that Christian Horner is ‘vulnerable’ (Image: Getty)
“Yes, this is what I warned about,” he told at the East Belgian Rally when asked about the recent departures. “The team then says: ‘Oh, it doesn’t matter, we have someone else [to replace them].’
“But it’s too many people now [leaving]. And Max gets questions about it every time and so on. So yeah, I think it’s just not good, what’s happening at the moment.” Verstappen Snr was then asked about Horner’s leadership style, responding: “He always glosses over it.”
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This wasn’t the first time that Verstappen Snr had called out Horner this season. Ever since the Brit was investigated over allegations of inappropriate behaviour in February, the former F1 driver has been calling for the team principal to resign.
Back in March, the Dutchman nailed his colours to the mast, insisting: “It can’t go on the way it is. There is tension here while he remains in position.” The Milton Keynes-based team are now facing the repercussions of an unstable year in F1.