For the first time, Max Verstappen has responded to his father’s remarks regarding Christian Horner in light of the escalating Red Bull controversy.
Although the reigning Formula 1 champion would much rather put his focus on the track, Jos Verstappen’s demand that Horner be ousted has dragged him into the controversy.
The three-time world champion was reacting to Verstappen Sr.’s explosive remarks on Sunday, where he commented that Red Bull would “explode” if Christian Horner continued running the team amid the shocking scandal that has triggered tensions at Red Bull.
This comes after Horner was cleared following an investigation into allegations of “inappropriate behavior” made by a female team member. However, on the eve of the Formula 1 season opener, text messages and images purportedly linked to the investigation were leaked.
The husband of the late Spice Girl Geri Halliwell continues to refute all allegations and is confident that he will continue leading Red Bull and the team was united behind him.
Just hours after Max won the Bahrain Grand Prix, Jos called for the 50-year-old to be fired claiming that Red Bull would “be torn apart” if he stayed.
Additionally, there have been rumors that Max would quit the team he has driven for almost his entire career due to the escalating tensions between Horner and Verstappen Sr.
In the lead-up to this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Max—who has won the last three titles and is under contract with Red Bull until 2028—finally talked about whether he agrees with his father’s remarks.
“I don’t know. I mean, I hope not,” Verstappen said. “It shouldn’t be. It’s a strong company, strong team, a lot of strong team members, so normally not.
“From my side I’m just focusing on the driving bit and I think that is the most important thing for the team right now.
“And also why we came here. That’s our main target and what we want to focus on, to not have this stuff going on race after race because that is not good for the team.”
Asked whether his father regretted his comments, Verstappen said: “I have not asked him that but my dad, from how I know him from go-karting, is very outspoken, and he is not a liar, that is for sure. That is what I can say about things.
“My dad and I are very close. We call every day. At the other end, I am not the guy who likes to speak a lot about certain stuff and I just want to focus on the driving.
“If there are issues, we try to resolve it within the team. I don’t see myself in F1 without my Dad and (manager) Raymond Vermeulen.”
There were rumours that Verstappen Sr. informed against Horner because he had a personal grudge which he vehemently denied.
“The only one who knows that is my dad himself,” Max said. “People will make up and speculate and think they know why he said certain things, but he is the only one who knows.
“Social media is there to speculate and make up stuff and there is not much I can do about that. I am not angry about that because I know what my dad is and how he is like.”
Though Verstappen did urge for some peace to be made so that he could get back to racing, he did not support Horner with such utmost certainty. This weekend, he hopes to win for the 19th time in 20 races on the ultra-quick Jeddah circuit, after having triumphed in the Bahrain season opener.
“Everyone in general, even if you have arguments or not, there are things that can be worked out,” said the Red Bull star. “Everyone is man enough and respectful enough anyway.
“I have not always agreed with everything that has happened – and I am not talking about lately – just in general in F1 and that is where sometimes it is good to have a discussions.
“You might agree to disagree, that is what happens in a relationship.”
Jos Verstappen will not be attending the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend although it was prearranged before he made his startling comments.
