Max Verstappen has been tipped to exit Red Bull and join F1 rivals Mercedes by a former driver. Riccardo Patrese competed in F1 from 1977 until 1993, finishing second to Williams team-mate Nigel Mansell in the 1992 world drivers’ championship and collecting six race wins across his career.

Concerns about a brain drain in Milton Keynes are well-founded. Aside from Horner, Red Bull have lost Jonathan Wheatley, Rob Marshall and Adrian Newey since 2023, with the spine of the organisation that dominated the start of the ground effect era now working elsewhere.

By sacking Christian Horner, Red Bull has made a big change to try to return to F1 winning ways. But there are other steps it must take, too