In the midst of ongoing turmoil at Red Bull Racing, Jos Verstappen is asking for the restoration of “peace” and “calm”. This call comes as Max Verstappen faces a never-ending bombardment of questions about Christian Horner’s internal war for domination, which is producing diversions at every turn.
The dispute, highlighted by a blatant fight for power and Horner’s interactions with a temporarily suspended female colleague, continues unabated. A crucial milestone in this ongoing story is the aforementioned staffer’s formal complaint against Horner to the FIA’s ethics committee.
Bild, a renowned German tabloid, reported that “Red Bull Racing said it had no knowledge of the complaint and would not comment further,” emphasizing the team’s rising tensions.
Further complicating matters, the female employee has questioned the outcome of Red Bull’s internal investigation, which earlier cleared Horner of any wrongdoing. According to sources, “a timetable for her appeal process is being drawn up,” implying a long-running battle.
The FIA, headquartered in Paris, has received the latest complaint; nevertheless, its spokeswoman claimed that due to the ethics committee’s autonomous and confidential operation, “As a result, we are unable to confirm receipt of the complaint or make comment,” keeping the situation under wraps.
In an effort to calm the ongoing tensions, Red Bull’s main protagonists, including Horner, Dr. Helmut Marko, and the Verstappen family, have apparently agreed to a “ceasefire” in public, particularly with the Australian Grand Prix approaching.
While competing in a rally in Belgium, where he won, Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, recognized the existence of a “power struggle” within Red Bull. He told Belgian news source Sporza, “That’s part of it, but it’s also important that the team is at peace right now. It is vital to restore calm, but given the circumstances, I believe it will take some time.
Jos Verstappen added, “I can’t say anything about that. Hopefully, they can focus on racing again soon, because that is what it is all about. And it is critical that Max continues to win.
He also commented on the team’s performance, saying, “The car is running really well, and there is nothing wrong with the engineers or him. For the most part, Max can turn it off, but he gets a lot of inquiries about it,” emphasizing the undesirable distraction this scenario presents for his son. Jos highlighted Max’s uneasiness with these questions, saying, “He doesn’t like it, but it’s part of Formula One.”
Leo Turrini, a renowned Italian journalist, believed that the disagreement goes beyond Horner’s acts or any imminent power grab. Turrini wrote in his Quotidiano column, “Maybe Verstappen senior and Marko are correct in their doubts that the empire can endure without Porsche beyond 2026. They’re not debating about’metoo’; instead, they’re battling for their future. They might all lose.
Turrini sarcastically pointed out the potential ramifications for Max, saying, “Max has a clause to get out of the contract, and Mercedes would take him right away.” They would wrap him with gold at Aston Martin,” before questioning Max’s future ambitions, “But what are Max’s intentions? Give up the 2025 title to usher in a new era?
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