Yuki Tsunoda, the Japanese Formula 1 driver, takes a moment to reflect on the departure of former Red Bull team boss, Christian Horner, ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix. Tsunoda acknowledges that Horner’s absence after twenty years is a significant change for Red Bull. However, Horner is not entirely out of the picture. Tsunoda reveals that the former team boss sent him a message before the Belgian Grand Prix.
The Belgian Grand Prix marks the first race weekend in Red Bull’s history without Christian Horner at the helm. The team boss was dismissed in early July and has been succeeded by former Racing Bulls team boss, Laurent Mekies. Yuki Tsunoda also admits that adjusting to Horner’s absence is a challenge, although the British ex-boss did send a message to the Japanese driver before the Belgian race weekend.
“I greatly appreciate how Christian supported me during various races,” Tsunoda tells the media at Spa on Thursday. “I received a message from him yesterday, in which he said: ‘Show what you can do’.” Tsunoda was also taken aback by the sudden departure of the Brit earlier this month. “It’s such a big change. For the past twenty years, Red Bull only worked with Christian. It’s a major shift. I heard the news from Helmut (Marko). That’s really all I can say about it.”
Confidence in Mekies
In the meantime, Mekies has taken over Horner’s role and is starting his first race weekend as Red Bull’s team boss at Spa. The Frenchman is a familiar face to Tsunoda, having worked with him during his Racing Bulls days. “He brings the positive things he has done in the past two years (at Racing Bulls) to Red Bull,” Tsunoda adds. “Perhaps from a different perspective, it’s good that a new person comes in who sees new angles. We’ll see how he handles it. But we also have many good people. They know what they’re doing.”
