Max Verstappen has stated that Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and his father Jos Verstappen are “not at odds.”
Verstappen, the three-time world champion, has started his most recent championship defense with a bang, taking the lead in the Drivers’ standings after winning five of the first seven races of the F1 2024 season.
Max Verstappen offers Updates on Jos Verstappen and Christian Horner
Despite the off-track scandal that surrounded Red Bull in the first few months of this season, the team has continued to put up a terrifying show on the track.
The longest-serving team principal in Formula One history, Horner, was the subject of a misconduct inquiry that was dropped the night before the Bahrain Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen won handily from pole position to kick off Formula One 2024.
Verstappen Sr., however, demanded that Horner step down from his role following the race, accusing the 50-year-old of “playing the victim when he is the one causing the problems.”
Additionally, Mr. Verstappen said that Red Bull, the defending Constructors’ Champions, would “explode” and be “torn apart” if Horner stayed in his current position.
After design genius Adrian Newey stated earlier this month that he will depart Red Bull in early Formula One 2025, he stepped up his comments that Red Bull is “in danger of falling apart,” saying that “it is important for internal peace that key people stay on board.”
Despite having a contract with Red Bull through the conclusion of the Formula One 2028 season, Verstappen may join Mercedes as early as next season due to the rumored conflicts within the organization.
Days after Verstappen Sr.’s post-Bahrain rant, the 26-year-old stated, “He is always very outspoken,” in defense of his father, who has continuously kept silent on the matter. Without a doubt, he is not a liar.
Verstappen has maintained that his father and Horner are not at odds, implying that they are just at odds over ideas, in an interview with the British publication the Guardian.
“My dad will always stay with me, of course,” he declared.
They don’t have a disagreement. Though that is a different thing. People are free to hold differing opinions.
Verstappen added, “There are a lot of pillars involved,” reiterating his wish for Red Bull to maintain the performance focus. I jumped to Red Bull Racing [in 2016] because Christian is a key player in the overall narrative.
However, the main concern is always getting everyone back on track and performance-focused.
“We are currently very focused on the performance side of things, as we have stated many times, and hopefully we can keep that going.”
Verstappen’s remarks follow earlier this week’s reports from PlanetF1.com that Mercedes and departing Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz were unable to reach an agreement because the team chose to monitor Verstappen’s circumstances at Red Bull.
After seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton decided to sign a multi-year contract with Ferrari, it is thought that Mercedes is willing to wait until the final weeks of the current season to decide on their F1 2025 driver lineup.
With 49 victories in the last 73 races since the beginning of his first championship-winning season in Formula One 2021, Verstappen is unquestionably the dominant force in Formula One today.
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