Christian Horner rival told he’ll ‘definitely’ come under ‘a lot of pressure’ if his team flops at Imola

Christian Horner took charge of Red Bull back in January 2005 and will oversee their 400th Grand Prix start at Imola, yet he is now under pressure to remain at the team.

Red Bull appointed Horner as the energy drink brand’s first, and to date only, team principal after buying the Jaguar team from Ford. His stewardship in Milton Keynes has since resulted in Red Bull winning eight drivers’ titles and also the F1 constructors’ championship six times.

Only Ferrari (248), McLaren (194) and Mercedes (129) have also won more Grands Prix than Red Bull (123) in F1 history. Horner will also hope to watch Max Verstappen or Yuki Tsunoda score their 107th pole position and 286th podium at this week’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

But the first European round of the 2025 F1 season will also be vital for Horner’s future with Red Bull. It is said that Red Bull’s Imola upgrades are decisive for Horner’s future after losing the unwavering backing of majority owner Chaleo Yoovidhya due to their disappointing year.

Fred Vasseur will face ‘a lot of pressure’ if Ferrari repeat their Miami GP disappointment at Imola

Yet Horner might not be the only team principal under pressure to keep control if their team flops at Imola. Sky Sports Italia pundit and ex-GP3 Series ace Vicky Piria fears Fred Vasseur will ‘definitely’ face pressure if Ferrari do not respond to their Miami blues in their backyard.

As well as Ferrari’s team orders enraging Lewis Hamilton in Miami, the Scuderia finished the Grand Prix 57.036 and 60.186 seconds from race-winner Oscar Piastri with Charles Leclerc and the Briton. It is a result that Piria believes Vasseur cannot afford Ferrari enduring again.

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Piria told Sky Sports: “If we think about it, this is the first year that it’s actually 100% Fred. He’s got his technical team, he’s worked on his car, he’s got the drivers he’s chosen, and things are not working the way they’re supposed to work.

“We’ve seen with this F1 car that it really takes something small for it to underperform or to perform really well. So, I do think there’s still some chance for them to pull themselves up.

“It’s something that we see a lot in Italian football. As soon as a team underperforms, they go ahead and change the trainer. So, for sure, there’s going to be a lot of pressure on Fred.

“We’re talking about really just a few tenths of a second, and it doesn’t take much to change the picture. But if the situation that we saw in Miami goes ahead for the next races, then definitely there will be pressure on Fred.”

Ferrari are working on upgrades but will not have significant new parts at Imola

The Miami GP was only the latest disappointing day that Ferrari have stomached in the 2025 F1 season, even after Hamilton’s call to pit handed Ferrari a Miami Sprint podium in P3 after stopping early for slick tyres. The 40-year-old is yet to take a Grand Prix podium with Ferrari.

Piastri’s Miami GP win even moved McLaren 152 points clear of Ferrari in the constructors’ standings, with the Scuderia in just fourth place after the opening six rounds. Ferrari would even trail 2024 winners McLaren by 47 points if they combined their 94 with Red Bull’s 105.

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Yet Imola is unlikely to see a huge turnaround and may see Vasseur join Horner in facing an uncertain future after the Emilia Romagna GP. Ferrari are not taking significant upgrades to Imola, which will not please Hamilton or Leclerc at the Scuderia’s first home race this term.

Upgrades are coming later in the year, though, as Ferrari are working on an unexpected rear suspension change to try to resolve their problems compromising Hamilton in qualifying. It remains to be seen if the upgrade will arrive before the pressure consumes Vasseur, though.