Christian Horner Grand Poohbah dailycarblog.com
The Grand Poohbah of Red Bull Infamy, Christian Horner, Becomes Pierre Gasly’s Mother Teresa
Formula One

Man management hasn’t been a Red Bull F1 specialty over the years, winning races and championships is the focus. Indeed if a driver does not perform to Red Bull expectations and standards they are thrown under the bus. And usually, the bus is driven by either “Maddog” Helmut Marko or Christian “Mother Teresa – Grand Poohbah” Horner. Look how they treated Danill Kyvat, and with Brendon Hartley they threw him under the bus and then reversed back to make sure the job was done.

They were really good buddies with Daniel Ricciardo until the Aussie had the good sense to leave. Ricciardo felt Red Bull were beginning to favour Max Verstappen for a future championship run.

But now Christian Horner is playing the dutiful “good cop” and Mother Teresa, perhaps a bit of Mary Poppins thrown in, as he puts his arm around the next-potential victim, Pierre Gasly.

Gasly had a difficult debut of sorts at the recent season-opening Australian Grand Prix. An “optimistic” Q1 strategy left Gasly stranded in 17th position for the race.

Perhaps feeling a little guilty Horner said, during a recent interview: “Give Gasley time”.

Christian horner Pierre Gasly dailycarblog.com

Time was a luxury not afforded to Brendon Hartley. So why the sudden change of persona with Gasly?

Afterall, his teammate finished on the podium while the 23 year-old Frenchman finished 11th.

“It’s still early days. There’s always pressure in Formula 1 but I thought he drove a good race. He just needs a straightforward weekend.” said Horner.

“He built his way into the weekend very well, his feedback’s very strong.”

“We know he’s got the pace, we’ve just got to give the kid a bit of time and it’ll come right for him. Unfortunately, he ended up in that DRS train.”

Gasly is a quick driver, a currency that trades favourably within the Red Bull driver execution chamber.

Gasly will not become another Brendon Hartley. But if I was a Red Bull F1 rookie driver I would be constantly looking over my shoulder.

 

Christian Horner Grand Poohbah dailycarblog.com
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