71 replies to this topic

[Ross Stonefeld]

At minimum he seems very good at the paddock politics.

[bonjon1979a]

I think at the moment, horner could do with a mercedes.

[bauss]

That must be why he built up a successful business, made a fortune for himself, bought a share of Willaims and then was head hunted by Mercedes to take over there.  Clearly not a clue.  

 

He owns shares in Mercedes F1 team too, I'd love to have no clue like the guy

Edited by bauss, 30 September 2014 - 17:25.

[redreni]

That must be why he built up a successful business, made a fortune for himself, bought a share of Willaims and then was head hunted by Mercedes to take over there. Clearly not a clue.

The guy has no relevant experience for the job he is now doing. Undoubtedly he is a very successful investor. But his investment in Mercedes would be safer if he took more of a hands-off approach, and left the running of the team to a suitably qualified individual.

Edited by redreni, 01 October 2014 - 17:07.

[SophieB]

My question to Mercedes fans,would you accept Horner in the team?Do you think he would have a more streamlining effect on race operations and he doesn't seem to be caught up in pleasing every Tom,Dick and Harry in the paddock.

 

Wouldn't really call myself a fan of Mercedes but I am content that RBR keep their managerial star. I've never once thought that stuff like the Hamilton -Rosberg rows could be solved by Horner weakly pleading with the drivers to please respect his authority over the team radio by saying stuff like like 'c'mon, this is silly  '

[BRG]

The guy has no relevant experience for the job he is now doing. 

 

Mercedes don't agree with you, because they chose him to succeed Norbert Haug.  Woolf, in addition to being a successful businessman, has also raced and rallied with success and been an racing instructor.  Not sure what other experience you feel he needs - how does Horner outgun him in expertise?

[Jamiednm]

I'd like to see Horner replace Paddy Lowe. I have no faith in Lowe whatsoever and he lucked-in to being TP at Mercedes after the W05 was built. I fear for Merc from 2015 onwards with him at the helm, it'll be like McLaren all over again. The only saving grace is Toto Wolff - I like the guy and would like to think that he'll get rid of Lowe if he thinks it is necessary.

[Szoelloe]

Mercedes don't agree with you, because they chose him to succeed Norbert Haug.  Woolf, in addition to being a successful businessman, has also raced and rallied with success and been an racing instructor.  Not sure what other experience you feel he needs - how does Horner outgun him in expertise?

 

He should stay on Haug's playground then. Haug was never TP. He was Merc's sporting representative, nothing else. He was unable to fit in the new structure when Merc became a factory outfit, and Wolff doesn't seem to be much better at it either.

[Logiso]

Wouldn't really call myself a fan of Mercedes but I am content that RBR keep their managerial star. I've never once thought that stuff like the Hamilton -Rosberg rows could be solved by Horner weakly pleading with the drivers to please respect his authority over the team radio by saying stuff like like 'c'mon, this is silly  '

 

+1. To add to that, what are the chances that the reason there are no team orders at Red Bull to give Ricciardo every possible chance at the moment is because Vettel wouldn't listen and Horner wouldn't be able to control the situation and it would be a PR embarrassment? The only problem for Merc is the reliability and I don't think Horner can claim he would make the cars more reliable at Merc based on RBR's record over it's 4 championship seasons. The only reason any of those years were interesting was because of Red Bull's bad reliability.

[DampMongoose]

Do Mercedes need Horner? I don't know, I wasn't aware they were short of catering staff. Although he's done a fine job overseeing the changes within RedBullto stop Seb being booed...

[PedroBR]

I think it would be great to have Horner together with Paddy Lowe taking care of the racing stuff and Toto taking care of politics and other bs non-racing related.

[Heisenberg]

Why would they need HORNER? Why do people always think F1 revolves around the same people (Newey, Brawn, Horner etc)?? It's lame. I find Horner likeable, a very decent Boss as well. But Merc are doing a great job with Wolff & Co. at the moment.

[Atreiu]

lol no

 

What he said.

[Nustang70]

Does he have much clout with Red Bull?  He hasn't had great success in luring Red Bull junior drivers and sponsorship to his Arden team.  This season, Pierre Gasly drives for his outfit in FR3.5, but Sainz Jr. is at DAMS.  Alex Lynn drives for Carlin in GP3 even though Arden has a team in that series as well.  

[rijole1]

Don't think Horner is the answer to Mercedes problems...wait...do they have some problems right now?

Horner is just fine where he is.

Horners next jobb is to take over mr Bernie's jobb -politics and shaking hands on the grid...

[Peter Perfect]

Wouldn't really call myself a fan of Mercedes but I am content that RBR keep their managerial star. I've never once thought that stuff like the Hamilton -Rosberg rows could be solved by Horner weakly pleading with the drivers to please respect his authority over the team radio by saying stuff like like 'c'mon, this is silly  '

 

They probably just need someone more assertive...

[olliek88]

Has anybody caught the feature in which Christian Horner is followed by a camera crew after the Italian GP?Fascinating piece I must say!(loved the part he was saying how Ricciardo charges all of his food and travel expenses on the team account-so these racing drivers aren't that different from the rest of us huh?)

It got me thinking,a TP scope of work is humongous.He must have racing knowledge,engineering know how,a financial background and marketing expertise (plus to be really successful,a grade A jack ass) all in one.

Is this where Mercedes are getting it wrong?It seems that Horner carries a lot of clout at Redbull and makes the major decisions up and down the RBR organization and with 8 world championships in the bag,it seems he has it right.

My question to Mercedes fans,would you accept Horner in the team?Do you think he would have a more streamlining effect on race operations and he doesn't seem to be caught up in pleasing every Tom,Dick and Harry in the paddock.

If I was in the Mercedes board,I would forget trying to get Adrian Newey,the car is a beast already,I would seriously consider dropping the three stooges and getting Horner on board.

Thoughts?

 

"Come on Seb, this is silly."

 

Much clout.

[Con1]

To misquote someone, if the answer to the question is "Christian Horner" then it is a damn stupid question.

[LORDBYRON]

This post should be renamed DO they need a Miracle

[redreni]

Mercedes don't agree with you, because they chose him to succeed Norbert Haug.  Woolf, in addition to being a successful businessman, has also raced and rallied with success and been an racing instructor.  Not sure what other experience you feel he needs - how does Horner outgun him in expertise?

So the fact that Wolff was given the job proves that he was suitably qualified? If that were a legitimate argument we would be forced to conclude that nobody incompetent has ever been appointed to any job. Horner outguns Wolff in experience because he has done the job before and won eight world championships, for a start.

Hat said, I'm not arguing that Mercedes need Horner particularly, just that they need a proper team pincipal. None of te two or three head honchos that currently share that job would make a competent team principal individually, and all together they still don't cut it.

[f1RacingForever]

Horner is not really a scary guy. He may have authority over rbr but I don't get the sense that vettel fully respects his authority. How many times has he talked back or completely ignored the teams instruction? There is nothing wrong with things down at Mercedes. A very heated rivals is completely healthy and normal. As usual, people crying over spilt milk. Just be glad we are witness to this in an otherwise boring season.

[DampMongoose]

Horner is not really a scary guy. He may have authority over rbr but I don't get the sense that vettel fully respects his authority. How many times has he talked back or completely ignored the teams instruction? There is nothing wrong with things down at Mercedes. A very heated rivals is completely healthy and normal. As usual, people crying over spilt milk. Just be glad we are witness to this in an otherwise boring season.