Max Verstappen has responded to the recent public criticism leveled at Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner by his father, Jos Verstappen.
Jos Verstappen’s remarks surfaced shortly after the conclusion of the Bahrain Grand Prix, where concerns over Horner’s conduct were widely discussed following allegations from a Red Bull staff member.
Despite undergoing an investigation by an external lawyer and being subsequently cleared, additional controversy arose when an anonymous email containing screenshots purportedly depicting exchanges between Horner and the complainant was circulated to Formula 1 authorities and media outlets.
In light of these developments, Jos Verstappen openly stated his belief that Red Bull’s stability would be jeopardized if Horner retained his position. This stance surprised many observers, especially considering Max Verstappen’s prior public endorsement of the team principal.
When approached for comment on the matter ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen emphasized his focus on the team’s performance aspects, deflecting further discussion on the internal dynamics within Red Bull.
“I’m the driver, I don’t know what’s happening higher up,” Verstappen said. “But from my side, I’m contracted to focus on the performance side of things.
“That’s what I’ll focus on this weekend. What has been said in Bahrain from everyone is to just leave that behind and hopefully have a quieter weekend here.”
Max Verstappen’s inner circle of management comprises his father and longtime associate, Raymond Vermeulen.
The three-time World Champion emphasized the importance of their presence, stating, “I don’t see myself in F1 without them by my side.” Despite the recent tensions between Jos and Horner, Verstappen expressed optimism that the issues could be resolved amicably.
He stated; “I guess he [Jos] clearly felt like that. But from my side, it doesn’t matter being on one side or the other side.
“As a son of my dad’s it would be weird to be on a different side [than him]. But I just want to focus on the performance side of things and have less talk of what we are doing outside of the track than actual performance. We have a great car and look forward to a great year.
“Everyone in general, even if you have arguments or not, there are always things that can be worked out.
“Everyone is man enough and respectful enough to each other. I’ve not always agreed with things in general in F1, and that’s why it’s good to have a discussion about things.
“You might agree to disagree sometimes, that is sometimes what is happening in a relationship. That’s how it goes.
He continued: “From how I know him already in go-karting, my dad is very outspoken. He’s not a liar, that’s for sure.”
