Jos Verstappen, father of three-time F1 champion Max Verstappen, has expressed concern that the Red Bull Formula One team could face significant turmoil if Christian Horner continues as team principal.
Verstappen highlighted the recent spotlight on Horner’s alleged behavior towards a team member in the days leading up to the new season. Speaking to the British Daily Mail newspaper after his son’s victory in the season-opening race in Bahrain, Verstappen emphasized the tension within the team as long as Horner remains in his position.
He warned that the current situation is unsustainable and could lead to the team being “torn apart” or “exploding,” criticizing Horner for portraying himself as a victim despite being the cause of the problems.
In response to Verstappen Sr.’s remarks, a spokesperson from Red Bull Racing assured the PA news agency on Sunday that there were no internal issues within the team. They emphasized the unity of the team and their focus on racing.
Subsequently, on Wednesday, the team’s parent company dismissed a complaint regarding alleged misconduct by Horner towards a team employee.
However, during practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix the following day, a file containing purported evidence against Horner, including alleged WhatsApp message exchanges, was reportedly emailed to nearly 200 individuals in the F1 paddock. Recipients included Liberty Media, F1, the FIA, the other nine team principals, and various media outlets.
Jos Verstappen, a former F1 driver who notably partnered with Michael Schumacher during their time at Benetton, has been suggested by some F1 insiders as a potential source of the file. However, Verstappen vehemently denied any involvement, stating to the Mail, “That wouldn’t make sense. Why would I do that when Max is doing so well here?”
Christian Horner, on the other hand, has refuted any accusations of wrongdoing. In a statement released on Thursday, he stated that he would refrain from commenting on anonymous speculation regarding the file.
Addressing the ongoing controversy, the president of Formula 1’s governing body expressed concern about the damage to the sport. However, he clarified that the FIA would not initiate an inquiry unless a formal complaint was submitted.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the FIA president, stated that any complaint received by the compliance officer would be investigated. However, as of now, the FIA had not received any complaints related to Horner’s situation.
“This is damaging on a human level,” Ben Sulayem remarked to the Financial Times, following a meeting with Horner on Friday.
