There are two ways in which dynasties crumble: Age or unforced error. Purple Bull’s F1 group spectacularly selected the latter over the previous 12 months with a seemingly countless string of strikes that backfired. Now it’s acceptable whether or not to query whether or not that is the top for the group as we all know it.
Group principal Christian Horner was fired on Wednesday morning amidst probably the most difficult season the group has had in years. As soon as the paragon of dominance, Purple Bull stumbled, not simply in standings however status over the 2025 season. It raised questions whether or not Max Verstappen might search greener pastures after 65 Grand Prix wins with the group, because the once-dominant automobile lagged behind constructors it used to lap.
Sacking Horner was clearly a transfer to satiate Verstappen’s frustrations, however bother had been brewing at Purple Bull for a while earlier than if you happen to learn the tea leaves. It started with the group’s response to allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate habits by Horner in direction of a feminine colleague, which emerged in February of 2024. On the time it felt like a foregone conclusion Purple Bull would half methods with Horner, because it was the logical and morally right transfer, however they as an alternative rallied round him, clearing him of any wrongdoing in a reasonably suspect inside investigation, which the group by no means launched any particulars of.
Not lengthy after this got here one other huge blow with Adrian Newey, arguably the best engineer within the sport’s historical past, asserting he would depart the group in April of 2024. The unquestioned scientific genius behind Purple Bull’s dominance, the timing of Newey wanting out was suspiciously near the Horner allegations, main many to imagine that Purple Bull’s determination to exonerate and hold Horner had a direct impact on Newey leaving.
Then got here the driving force swap to start out the 2025 season. Sergio Pérez, who had been Purple Bull’s No. 2 subsequent to Verstappen for all 4 of his world championship was being pushed apart to make means for teenager Liam Lawson. It got here following a down season from Pérez that noticed him end eighth within the driver’s championship, netting solely 4 podiums, functionally costing Purple Bull an opportunity on the Constructors’ Championship, the place they completed third behind McLaren and Ferrari. It felt like a knee-jerk determination, even regardless of the friction between Verstappen and Pérez. The group forged apart its long-standing aspect kick on the first signal of bother, treating him as probably the most replaceable man in Method 1.
Lawson ended up being horrible, was changed by Yuki Tsunoda within the seat, and he’s been equally horrible. By 12 races this season Lawson and Tsunoda rank sixteenth and seventeenth within the Driver’s Championship respectively, with neither managing to take a single podium.
There’s been an innate conceitedness in Purple Bull’s pondering that channeled itself by means of Verstappen’s brilliance. A prevailing perception that anybody was replaceable and easily a cog within the machine, which each denigrated particular person achievement, whereas additionally overstating the worth of the lads on the prime. That’s why Purple Bull is within the scenario it’s in proper now.
So begins probably the most precarious juncture within the historical past of Purple Bull’s F1 group since its inception. The group is lagging behind in 2025, Verstappen is sad, Horner is gone, Newey is gone, and that is all taking place when the group is on the verge on swapping from its long-reliable Honda powertrain to a largely unproved one made by Ford. This problem is being foisted on the shoulders of Laurent Mekies, former Racing Director at Ferrari, who’s an in-house rent after main Visa Money App Racing Bulls these previous few seasons as Group Principal.
Will Verstappen even like working with Mekies? In all probability not, as a result of it’s unclear if Verstappen actually likes working with anybody. Positive, Max is presently third within the 2025 standings and there’s an opportunity some magic might occur, but it surely doesn’t really feel prefer it. McLaren is blowing everybody out of the water this season and the sector is enjoying catch up.
This shall be one of many nice “what ifs” in motorsport. Had the group chosen to axe Horner in 2024 and do what it took to maintain Newey we may very well be seeing Purple Bull in a really completely different mild proper now. As an alternative, for the primary group in years, the group feels rudderless, and not using a plan, and with all hope evaporating.
If that is really the top of the Purple Bull dynasty there shall be numerous blame going round, however in the long run the group solely has one place to level its finger: At itself.
