Formula One world champion Max Verstappen has endorsed Red Bull’s handling of a complaint against team boss Christian Horner, stating that the controversy has not affected his feelings about racing for the team.
Verstappen’s two victories at the start of the season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been overshadowed by allegations of misconduct against Horner by a female employee at Red Bull.
Horner, who denies the accusations, was cleared of misconduct, but the woman lodged an appeal after her complaint was dismissed, British media reported last week. The controversy has continued to generate attention in the lead-up to Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix.
Verstappen expressed his preference for focusing primarily on his performance in the car rather than getting too involved in off-track matters. He stated that as far as he knows, everything regarding the issue has been handled appropriately. He emphasized that it is not his role within the team to delve into further details or investigations.
Red Bull GmbH, the team’s parent company, has not officially commented on the reports, but they had previously mentioned that the accuser had the right to appeal.
Despite the internal issues, Verstappen, who has won the last three world championships with Red Bull, stated that his performance and comfort within the team remain unaffected. He expressed hope that the attention would shift back to their on-track results.
Verstappen’s father, Jos, a former F1 driver, expressed concerns after the Bahrain Grand Prix that Red Bull could face internal strife if Horner remained in charge. These comments led to speculation about Verstappen’s future with the team, even though his contract extends until 2028.
While Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff expressed interest in having Verstappen join his team, Verstappen did not rule out a potential move to Mercedes in the future. However, he emphasized his comfort and satisfaction with Red Bull, describing it as his “second family.” He stated that it would be a great narrative for him to finish his F1 career with Red Bull.
Verstappen acknowledged that disagreements can arise in any family but emphasized that he feels good about his current situation and remains focused on performance.
