Jos Verstappen Sr recently weighed in on the ongoing situation involving Red Bull Racing and their team principal, Christian Horner.
Lewis Hamilton expressed his belief that the involvement of Jos Verstappen in this matter could potentially be detrimental to his son Max.
Verstappen Sr raised concerns about the stability of Red Bull Racing, hinting that there could be tumultuous consequences if Horner continues to hold his position within the team.
This comes after an investigation conducted by Red Bull GmbH, which looked into allegations of inappropriate behavior by Horner.
The investigation concluded before the Bahrain Grand Prix, ultimately clearing Horner of any wrongdoing.
Hamilton’s perspective on Jos Verstappen’s involvement suggests that he sees it as a factor that could potentially add unnecessary tension to the situation. It highlights the delicate balance between personal opinions and the impact they can have on team dynamics in the high-stakes world of Formula 1.
Hamilton responded: “I don’t know the details of it so I don’t know what he’s basing these foundations off.
“But at the end of the day, he’s not a part of the team, he’s a parent and so that’s just an opinion, but it’s definitely not helpful.”
Jos Verstappen Sr is part of the management team of his three-time champion son Max, along with Raymond Vermeulen.
In contrast, Hamilton was initially managed by his father Anthony in the early stages of his career. Although Hamilton is frequently spotted with the seven-time champion during race weekends, there are no formal management connections between them.
When questioned about the dynamics of parental involvement in Formula 1 workplaces, Hamilton acknowledged: “I think it is a very thin line to walk. It’s also dependent on your relationship with your parent.
“You meet some people who have a great relationship with their parents, and they’ve been amazing parents, and then you’ve got people that have had bad relationships. And this is not necessarily parents that have been good to them.
“So I don’t know about his [Verstappen’s] relationships. Obviously, you hear things here and there. But Max is a grown man, and he’s a champion, and I’m sure he can make his own decisions.
“In our world, as drivers, it’s very, very easy to be misled by people whispering in your ear, and perhaps not guiding you always the right way. I’m not saying it’s the case there, because they’re doing great.
“But I know in sports, other athletes that I’ve spoken to that I see, whether it’s in tennis – and I’ve experienced it – when you sometimes don’t have the right guidance around you, it leads to you either making the wrong decisions or not being able to perhaps be the best at what you do.
“But that’s clearly not the case there, he’s performing well. So it is very difficult because you want your parent to be your parent, and have a good relationship. But when business is involved, it makes it really difficult.”
