Red Bull owner Yoovidhya ‘sends Thai spy to snoop on Christian Horner’ | F1 | Sport

Red Bull owner Chalerm Yoovidhya has reportedly sent a Thai spy to observe team principal Christian Horner and the entire Formula One operation amid the saga involving the English executive. Horner was cleared in a team investigation of wrongdoing following allegations of inappropriate behaviour on the eve of the 2024 F1 season.

German outlet Bild claim that the Red Bull majority owner sent a family member dubbed the ‘Thai spy’ to keep tabs on Horner and the team, with plans to increase the family’s role.

Yoovidhya and his family had taken a hands-off approach during their time in charge, but stoked concerns that they are planning to make big changes once they get an inside look at operations.

Horner has been under increased pressure in the past few weeks and also the subject of a spy’s attention, after Yoovidhya’s family member flew to the team’s headquarters in Milton Keynes to assess each department of Red Bull Racing.

Yoovidhya owns 51 per cent of the team and is said to be ready to assert more dominance, rather than continuing to take a backseat, amid concerns over the uncertain futures of Max Verstappen, Helmut Marko and Adrian Newey as a result of Horner’s scandal.

Company founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who passed away in 2022, previously held significant importance within the team and with the Austrian no longer involved, Yoovidhya wants to step up the family’s involvement.