Bernie Ecclestone Labels Christian Horner Idiot After Sexting Scandal

Bernie Ecclestone has harshly criticized his friend Christian Horner, former Red Bull Racing team principal, calling him an "idiot" for his involvement in a sexting scandal that erupted 18 months prior to his firing. Despite Horner being cleared twice of sexual harassment and coercion claims, the scandal, which included leaked WhatsApp messages, caused significant embarrassment and disrupted Red Bull's internal dynamics, contributing to his dismissal after more than 20 years. Ecclestone suggested Horner acted immaturely, behaving like a 20-year-old rather than a man in his 50s, and noted that Horner’s perceived overreach in power at Red Bull led to internal conflicts, especially following the death of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz. He also expressed little sympathy for the female employee involved, questioning why she did not directly confront Horner. The scandal and subsequent power struggles coincided with a decline in Red Bull's dominance in Formula 1, with key personnel departures and speculation over star driver Max Verstappen's future. Ecclestone believes the team’s leadership failed to address the issues early and that Horner’s decline was partly due to a loss of performance and increasing scrutiny within the organization.