Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Verstappen was questioned if his father regretted his
words, which threw doubt not only on Horner’s future but also on his son.
“I haven’t asked him that, but my father, from what I know from go-karting, is quite forthright and not a liar.
“My dad and I are quite close. We make calls every day.
Max Verstappen (center) walks with his manager Raymond Vermeulen (left) and father Jos Verstappen (right)
during the Bahrain Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic).
Verstappen’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, met with Horner earlier this week in an effort to clarify the air at the
crisis-hit squad. Neither Max nor Jos were present.
Verstappen continued: “I don’t see myself in F1 without them (his father and manager) by my side.”
Horner stated after last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix, won by Verstappen, that he was “absolutely confident” he
would remain as Red Bull head for the rest of the season.
Horner has been under heavy scrutiny in recent weeks following claims leveled against him by a female colleague. He
has consistently refuted the charges.
However, Verstappen’s 51-year-old father stated following last weekend’s contentious race in the Gulf Kingdom:
“There is tension here while he (Horner) remains in position.”
“The team is in risk of breaking apart. It cannot continue the way it is. It will detonate. He is acting like a victim yet
he is the one causing the difficulties.”
When asked if he could stay at Red Bull with Horner still in his post, Verstappen said, “Well, we are at the moment. I
saw a number of stories like that, which was strange to read.
“But from my side, what I want and it doesn’t matter who is involved in the team or not, it’s to have a quiet
environment where everyone is happy to work.”
However, intra-team feuding at the grid’s all-conquering squad has sparked talk that Verstappen, who has won 18 of
the last 19 races, may leave Red Bull for Mercedes.
