Max Verstappen defended his father, Jos Verstappen, asserting that his father is not one to tell falsehoods, following the explosive insinuation that Red Bull may face disintegration if Christian Horner persists as team leader. Verstappen was queried about his father’s introspective remorse over his declarations, prior to the impending Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. These declarations undeniably hurled additional scepticism onto the potential longevity of Horner’s leadership, as well as Verstappen’s future within the team.
Max narrated that his father had a habit of speaking his mind during their go-karting days, and always stood by his words. There is a strong bond between the Verstappen duo; they converse daily. Earlier this week, Verstappen’s agent, Raymond Vermeulen, scheduled a meet-up with Horner in an effort to resolve the mounting issues within the struggling team. Both Verstappens were absent.
Verstappen went on to emphasise his belief that his F1 journey wouldn’t be feasible without his father or manager standing by his side. After Verstappen secured the Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend, Horner expressed his unwavering confidence in his continued tenure as the head executive for Red Bull throughout this season. The allegations against him, lodged by a female coworker, have subjected Horner to severe criticism in previous weeks, but he has consistently refuted these accusations.
Jos Verstappen, now 51, addressed the situation after the tumultuous race in the Gulf Kingdom over the weekend, claiming that as long as Horner remains in power, tensions would remain high. He warned of the imminent dissolution of the team under the continued leadership and attributed the team’s troubles to Horner. When quizzed whether he intends to remain at Red Bull with Horner in the driver’s seat, Max responded affirmatively, albeit stating that he found the circulating stories a tad strange. He stated that regardless of the team’s backstage players, his preference is for a harmonious work environment that suits everyone.
Nonetheless, the ongoing disputes within the championship-leading team have fuelled speculations that Verstappen, who has seized 18 out of the last 19 races’ victories, could consider leaving Red Bull for Mercedes.
Verstappen declared his plan to honour his Red Bull agreement that continues till 2028 but didn’t shut the possibility of joining Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari the following year took everybody by surprise. Verstappen articulated that one can’t predict what life may throw at them, influence them or the occurrences that may surround them. Therefore, it’s impossible to be certain about life’s events. His approach in dealing with life mirrors this philosophy. Despite expressing his satisfaction with his team and their current performance, he insists that he has no cause for departure, and remains content and calm with the situation.