Photo: Happier times - Mark Webber and Christian HornerIt’s not unlike two brothers playing in a sandpit, each with the same toy. One breaks theirs and the parent takes the good toy off the other child and gives it to their sibling. The repercussions are this: The relationship between the children is tarnished and naturally there are tears and maybe a fight. Further the relationship between the child with the good toy and the parent is changed as the child now thinks ‘I can’t trust my parent and I’m not their favourite’ while anxiety may set in. Then those looking on will take a very deem view of the parent and their decisions.
While people speak highly of Christian Horner the Red Bull team principal and what he has accomplished with the team there have been two errors of judgment made this year.
At the Turkish Grand Prix earlier in the season both Red Bull drivers collided when Sebastian Vettel attempted to pass Mark Webber who was leading the race. Vettel came off badly having to retire while Webber lost the lead eventually finishing third. It seemed very clear that it was caused by Vettel and in the heat of the moment he made some very derogatory signals about Webber.
Well that’s racing, two young hot heads fighting for the lead. Yes, but where it went wrong for Red Bull was Horner’s inability to point responsibility and be seen to take action. While it was clear that Vettel caused the accident and effectively lost not just the the Grand Prix but a 1-2 for the team, Horner was ineffective in managing the aftermath.
Move onto Silverstone and the British Grand Prix in the weekend. Both drivers were given a newly designed front wing assembly. Vettel’s wing broke in practice and Horner made the decision to take Webber’s wing and give it to Vettel. Wrong!
Back to the sandpit analogy.
In his decision Horner has miscalculated the repercussions from his ‘sandpit parenting’. Webber now distrusts Horner, sees Vettel as the ‘favourite’ while the global community looks on with a deem view of proceedings.
Unless Red Bull or Horner addresses this situation in a satisfactory manner it will all eventually turn to custard.
Unfortunately there seems to be an element of smugness with Horner. It has been reported on the ITV F1 website that he told reporters at Silverstone, “Mark has a contract with us for the future. We’ve provided him with a car that has enabled him to run at the front, win grand prix’s and challenge for the world championship. I doubt very much he is going to walk away from that.”
Is he getting this wrong as well?
Now in life we make mistakes as we are all human. The important thing is to be able to admit when we have got it wrong. Yes it is humbling but it gains respect.
So what should the parent do about the child with the broken toy in the sandpit? The ironical point to this is that small incidents like this define us as parents (and how our children turn out). A clue to good parenting is always to ask 'what would my parent/s have done?'
Good management is like good parenting. But this is Formula One isn’t it?
