The Belgian Grand Prix is the first Formula 1 race since the end of the 2004 season that has not been attended by Christian Horner who was axed as Red Bull boss last week
Formula 1 has a personality problem, because another one of the sport’s biggest names – and mouths – disappeared when Red Bull unceremoniously dumped Christian Horner last week.
It was a very strange sight yesterday looking at the Red Bull pit wall and, for the first time in 406 F1 races, not seeing Horner poring over the data. He is a divisive figure of course but, love him or loathe him, the 51-year-old played a key role in F1 which is as much soap opera as it is sport these days.
Through Drive to Survive and social media, F1 has built itself a massive new audience in recent years by putting the sport’s personalities in the shop window. But, one by one, the ones that resonated most with people are disappearing.
Daniel Ricciardo was the darling of Netflix but looks done with F1 after his own Red Bull axing last year. Bombastic team boss Guenther Steiner was also popular but rubbed owner Gene Haas up the wrong way and so he was kicked to the kerb last year.
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At least fun-loving Finn Valtteri Bottas, off the grid this year, is still being used by Mercedes as a social media star as well as their reserve driver. Oh, and he’s pretty much set to be back racing next year with F1 newcomers Cadillac.
But Horner will be another dearly missed personality – even if you didn’t like him, and many didn’t, he made for a great pantomime villain. His replacement Laurent Mekies is an experienced and well-respected operator, but a much more dry personality.
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The Frenchman is the latest technically-minded boss of one of F1’s highest-profile teams, along with engineer Andrea Stella at McLaren and power unit expert Andy Cowell at Aston Martin. Put simply, as teams hunt for every drop of performance, the nerds are taking over.
At least Toto Wolff is still alive and kicking at Mercedes, though he seemed genuinely sad to see the back of Horner when he spoke about the absence of his arch-nemesis yesterday. But F1 has built its growth in recent years not on the racing itself, but on the likeability of the key figures that drive the sport. And with fewer larger-than-life characters involved these days, F1’s popularity may suffer for it.
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Every time Lando Norris busts up his nose, something special happens. He cut it partying in Amsterdam before his maiden F1 win in Miami last year, and sliced it open again at Silverstone earlier this month as he celebrated his first victory on home soil.
Maybe the best way for the Brit to see off title rival Oscar Piastri is to make sure he keeps getting smacked on the snout. If Tyson Fury decides against reversing his boxing retirement, perhaps Lando has a job for him.
From the archive
George Russell secured his first F1 podium in Belgium in 2021, having mastered heavy rain to qualify second in his Williams before torrential downpours saw the race called off after just two laps.
Fast fact
Max Verstappen has gone fastest four years in a row in qualifying at Spa – but only started on pole in 2021 having taken grid penalties in each of his last three visits to Belgium.
Inside track
New team Cadillac want experienced duo Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez to fill their two race seats in their debut season, but have yet to agree a deal with either. Both are also being considered by Alpine.