sport news Christian Horner is trolled on Instagram over his tribute to Red Bull ... trends now

Christian Horner has been mocked on Instagram on the back of his tribute to Red Bull mastermind Adrian Newey.

Horner's Red Bull team were dealt a major blow on Wednesday when they confirmed Newey, the person responsible for their dominant car, will leave the team after 18 years.

The news is the latest development in a series of events that have unfolded since Horner was accused of 'coercive behaviour towards a female employee', before being investigated and subsequently cleared.

Red Bull, meanwhile, insist Newey's departure is not directly linked to the allegations that have engulfed the team since February, but driven by growing resentment at how he has been less than fully credited for the team's success.

Red Bull boss Horner took to Instagram to pay tribute to 'friend' Newey, but was hit by backlash from fans who seem to refuse to move on from the allegations, which have gone to appeal. 

'For me, when Adrian joined Red Bull, he was already a superstar designer,' Horner wrote in a statement that mirrored the words from his official statement released by Red Bull. 'Two decades and 13 championships later he leaves as a true legend.

'He is also my friend and someone I will be eternally grateful to for everything he brought to our partnership.

'All of our greatest moments from the past 20 years have come with Adrian's hand on the technical tiller. The legacy he leaves behind will echo through the halls of Milton Keynes and the RB17 Track Car will be a fitting testament and legacy to his time with us.'

One fan posted in response: 'Look what you have done do the team. Such a shame honestly!'

Another added: 'Christian can't really see that the team is falling apart because of him and Max's dad.'

'You're the reason he's leaving buddy,' a third wrote.

Before the start of the current Formula 1 season, Red Bull GmbH in Salzburg, the world champion team's parent

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