Horner set for Red Bull Racing

High level sources have told autosport.com that Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz has decided to restructure the current management set-up at the team, which is currently led by Tony Purnell and David Pitchforth, following his takeover of the outfit in November.

It is not clear yet whether Purnell and Pitchforth will have a new role in the outfit or will leave the team entirely, but an announcement could be made as early as Friday.

Horner himself was unavailable for comment on Thursday night but Purnell, when contacted by autosport.com, indicated that he was unaware of any changes in the management of the team.

"Dietrich Mateschitz made it clear to the public that he intended to stick with the present management set-up of David Pitchforth and I, and his reputation is that he is a man of his word," he told autosport.com.

Purnell's comments are in direct reference to Mateschitz's claims made at the announcement that he had bought Jaguar Racing that he intended to stick with the current management set-up.

"It would be stupid to change everything in a rush," Mateschitz was quoted as saying at the time. "Tony and David have done a good job so far."

Although Purnell and Pitchforth have been influential in helping turnaround the fortunes of the former Jaguar Racing team from an embarrassing back of the grid outfit to a respectable midfield runner, there has been evidence in recent weeks that all has not been perfect between the British part of the team and its new Austrian management.

Following comments in December from Pitchforth about his reluctance to undertake a car-sharing scheme between drivers Christian Klien and Vitantonio Liuzzi, Red Bull's motorsport director Helmut Marko was openly critical.

"Mr Pitchforth must recognise that he is an employee and not an owner," said Marko. "All decisions will be taken in Salzburg and not in England."

Mateschitz was unavailable for comment.