Ralf Schumacher reveals that Horner wanted Colapinto at Red Bull
In 2024, Christian Horner had a plan for the Red Bull drivers. He wanted Franco Colapinto, but Helmut Marko made another choice, promoting Lawson and Tsunoda. A decision that created internal tensions within the team.
While Red Bull is going through a turbulent period, a new revelation adds more spice to the story: Christian Horner wanted Franco Colapinto in the team, but was overruled by Helmut Marko. It was Ralf Schumacher who shared this information in the Backstage Boxengasse podcast.
Colapinto, who replaced Logan Sargeant at Williams in 2024 for nine races, caught the eye of many. Yet instead of joining Red Bull, the Argentine signed as a reserve driver for Alpine.
Ralf Schumacher stated: « Marko obviously wanted both drivers from his own group at Red Bull, namely Lawson or Tsunoda. But Christian Horner doesn’t rate them highly; he wanted the Argentine Colapinto. » A statement that highlights the tensions within the Austrian team.
A team losing its bearings?
Since the start of the season, Red Bull seems to be walking on hot coals. Driver choices are being made without real continuity. Liam Lawson, after being called up to the senior team, failed to impress. As a result: he was dropped after just two Grand Prix, and Yuki Tsunoda took his place. But that wasn’t Horner’s initial plan.
According to Ralf Schumacher, this instability is indicative of a real internal problem: « You have to admit that Red Bull has fallen into mediocrity. Max Verstappen is still saving the day and there are changes on the technical side, so you don’t really know where things are heading, and Pierre Waché himself seems to lack clear direction. »
With already three different teammates for Verstappen in four races, the team seems to be flying blind. Yet, in a team aiming for world titles, stability is essential.
It’s no secret that Christian Horner and Helmut Marko often have different visions when it comes to driver management. The Red Bull boss wanted to take a bold bet with Colapinto, but Marko imposed his choice.
« He wanted Colapinto. So, Dr. Marko, with his poor judgment calls on drivers, finds himself under pressure once again. You could almost make a movie out of it. » jokes Schumacher. And he’s not wrong: with behind-the-scenes tension, controversial decisions and questionable technical calls, it’s a storyline straight out of Drive to Survive. But the tensions between the leaders are only the visible tip of a deeper iceberg.
Especially since Red Bull doesn’t just have a driver problem: the technical side is also a concern. Pierre Waché, the technical director, seems just as lost, which does nothing to clarify the team’s future.
What now?
Faced with this dual managerial and technical crisis, the team’s short-term future raises many questions. With Tsunoda now alongside Verstappen, the question is simple: how long will it last? Red Bull is a winning machine, but it relies heavily on Max Verstappen‘s performances.
So will Colapinto regret not joining Red Bull? Will Tsunoda manage to make his mark? And above all, how much longer will Horner and Marko keep undermining each other before a real decision is made?
