Why Christian Horner’s BYD F1 Team Bid Could Be a Massive Ron Dennis Mistake
Christian Horner wants his empire back, and he might be looking east to build it. After spending months in exile following his unceremonious exit from Red Bull Racing, the former team principal is reportedly plotting a massive return to the Formula 1 paddock. According to a fresh report from Sky Sports F1 shared by the X account @ formularacers_ , Horner has held talks with Chinese manufacturer BYD regarding their ambitions to enter the sport as a 12th team.
The Chinese EV giant has expressed serious interest in joining the F1 grid over recent months, and pairing their financial muscle with Horner’s managerial mystique looks like a match made in heaven on paper. It also looks like a massive trap. You see, Formula 1 history is littered with the careers of exiled team bosses who let their egos drive a disastrous second act.
If Horner truly believes he can use Chinese investment to exact revenge on Red Bull, he desperately needs to study the spectacular downfall of Ron Dennis. The Ron Dennis Warning Back in January 2014, Ron Dennis orchestrated an internal boardroom coup to oust Martin Whitmarsh and reinstall himself as McLaren’s Group CEO. He stood in front of the press, promised sweeping organizational changes, and swore McLaren would return to its winning ways.
But what happened next, well, you could call it a toxic bloodbath. Dennis pretty much failed to deliver results on the track and alienated long-term sponsors. And in a desperate bid to consolidate his power, Dennis attempted to secure a massive $2.
05 billion (£1. 65 billion) takeover bid from an unidentified consortium of Chinese investors in late 2016. And well, of course, the board revolted.