Amid Mercedes’ interest in Verstappen and Red Bull’s decline in performance, Horner’s abrupt axe was interpreted by some as an attempt to keep the champion at the team. However, Brundle confirmed the Verstappens' position on Horner, and whether they were behind his sacking.

Nico Rosberg, the former Mercedes driver and Sky F1 pundit, believes Christian Horner’s sacking by Red Bull was “a long time in the making.” And the 2016 World Champion says it feels “completely unreal” to think that Horner is no longer in charge of the team he built into a winning machine.