Jos Verstappen has further upped the ante in the ongoing power struggle within Red Bull Racing by saying Christian Horner (pictured with Verstappen Sr., above) needs to be replaced as team principal, or the team “will explode.”
The father of three-time world champion Max Verstappen, Jos — himself a Formula 1 racer in the 1990s and early ’00s — has been a constant presence throughout his son’s career and is regularly on-site at races within Red Bull, although he is not an employee of the team. A grievance against Horner’s alleged inappropriate behavior towards a female colleague was dismissed after an independent investigation last week, but messages and images purporting to be evidence from the investigation were circulated to senior Formula 1 figures and media the following day.
In a show of unity, Horner walked into the paddock hand-in-hand with his wife Geri on Sunday, and was joined on the grid by Red Bull GmbH majority shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya, but Jos Verstappen says Horner’s position is untenable.
“There is tension here while he remains in position,” Verstappen Sr. told the British tabloid the Daily Mail. “The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”
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RACER understands there was a heated exchange between Verstappen Sr. and Red Bull team members including Horner on Friday night in Bahrain, But when asked about claims that he is behind a campaign to remove the team principal, Verstappen said: “That wouldn’t make sense. Why would I do that when Max is doing so well here?”
Verstappen Jr. won Sunday’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix to secure his 55th career victory — all achieved with Red Bull — and ensure he has not been headed in the drivers’ championship since May 2022. Given his and the team’s recent form, the Dutchman is a heavy favorite to win a fourth championship in a row.
In response to Verstappen Sr.’s comments, a Red Bull Racing spokesperson told RACER: “There are no issues here. The team are united and we are focused on racing.”
Horner had insisted his full focus is on Red Bull’s on-track performance, after starting the season with a one-two result, but acknowledged he has been facing opposition following the conclusion of the investigation.
“My focus is on racing,” Horner said. “What people choose to write is up to them. But my focus coming out of this weekend is on the next race in seven days’ time in Saudi Arabia.
“I’m not going to comment on what motives, whatever person may have for doing this. My focus is on this team, my family, my wife and going racing. I have the support of an incredible family, of an incredible wife, of an incredible team and everybody within that team and my focus is on going racing and winning races and doing the best that I can.
“You can see what it meant to the whole team. Better to do your talking on-track.”