The off-track saga surrounding Pink Bull forward of the 2024 F1 season could possibly be “the start of the tip”, believes Gerhard Berger.
Pink Bull’s begin to final season was overshadowed by a scandal surrounding group principal Christian Horner, who was accused – and later cleared – of inappropriate behaviour in direction of a feminine colleague.
Allegations of coercive, abusive behaviour and sexual harassment had been made in opposition to Horner however he was cleared following an inside investigation, whereas the girl who complained had her enchantment dismissed.
The saga created turmoil inside the group and resulted in messy political infighting involving Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, who known as for Horner to step down.
Horner remained in put up and whereas Pink Bull slipped to 3rd place within the constructors’ championship, Verstappen was capable of clinch a fourth successive drivers’ world title.
Pink Bull warned by ex-Toro Rosso chief
However Berger, who was the co-owner of Pink Bull’s sister group Toro Rosso after they debuted in F1 in 2006, reckons the controversy will nonetheless impression the Milton Keynes squad.
“It’s typically the start of the tip when such points are introduced up,” Berger instructed Auto Motor und Sport.
“Method 1 is so advanced and so aggressive that you could solely succeed if everybody within the group pulls collectively, if everybody agrees and communicates nicely with one another.
“The Pink Bull model has all the time radiated cheerfulness and a cool picture. Rapidly, the whole lot modified.”
Berger additionally feels Pink Bull now not talk as clearly or straight as they did earlier than their late founder Dietrich Mateschitz died.
“Fully untypical for the group, there are not any clear statements anymore,” he added.
“Let’s take Perez for instance. That he now not delivers the efficiency has been seen.
“That they nonetheless gave him a contract once more was not understood by anybody within the business.
“There might have been causes, similar to advertising and marketing pressures or contractual obligations. However when issues didn’t enhance afterwards, they gave him three extra races, then two extra, and averted making a choice.
“I couldn’t see a transparent line there. In Mateschitz’s instances, Pink Bull was all the time well-known for its readability.”
